DACCA: The East Pakistan National Awami Party today [Dec 4] demanded immediate withdrawal of Emergency from the country as well as the release of political prisoners now in detention under the Defence of Pakistan Rules.

A resolution to this effect passed at Paltan Maidan this afternoon expressed grave concern at the continued detention of political leaders and newsmen.

The meeting was presided over by Haji Danesh, Vice President of the Party. It was addressed by Mian Arif Iftikhar and Ghulam Ghaus Bakhsh Bezanju, two MNAs from West Pakistan, Mr Altaf Husain, General Secretary, East Pakistan NAP and Mr Hatem Ali, Secretary, Krishak Society.

The meeting made a clemency appeal to the Indonesian Government for sparing the life of Dr Subandrio under death sentence.

The meeting expressed its gravest concern at the soaring prices of food grains and increase in the control price of rice. It demanded the Government should arrange supply of rice at the rate of Rs. 20 per maund throughout the province without any delay.

The meeting condemned in strongest terms, “the US war of aggression” in Viet-Nam and asked the “Imperialist Powers” to vacate that country.

Other resolutions include demands for the restoration of “democratic rights”, the withdrawal of certificates issued by the Government for realisation of tax and land receipts, fulfilment of the workers’ and labour demands, grant of more powers to the legislatures of the country and cancellation of the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report on students. — Agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from Lyallpur,] the President of the West Pakistan Muslim League, Malik Khuda Bakhsh Bucha, said here this evening that the League High Com­mand had no intention to create “forward and backward” blocs in the organisation. Addressing the Muslim Leaguers at the District Council hall, the Provincial League chief said that every Muslim Leaguer should have full faith in the ideology of the party and the manifesto of the President of the League.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2016