DACCA: [... Mr Abdul Hai Chowdhury, East Pakis­tan Law Minister] refused to accept that there was no fundamental rights in Pakistan [June 20].

He said there was hardly any clause relating to fundamental rights of the 1956 Constitution which had not been included in the 1962 Constitution. The criticism of the opposition was therefore wrong, he said. But all rights must be exercised within certain limitations so that it did not encroach upon another, he added.

Mr Chowdhury said the parliamentary system introduced by an alien rule was not suited to Pakistan. The present system on the other hand had allowed greater participation of the people in the administration. He reiterated that the President was now elected by 120,000 representatives of the people, as against only 900 during the past decades.

He stoutly defended the judiciary which, he said, was not crippled or made dependent. He also refused to accept the opposition contention that those who worked for the interest of the country were thrown into the jail; this, he said, was no new criticism. The Minister also said that the Government and the people were determined to punish the traitors and conspirators.

Referring to criticism against security laws which is to protect the sovereignty of the country, the Minister said that late H.S. Suhrawardy had also defended it. — Agency

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2018