LAHORE: Air Marshal Asghar Khan has sought formal written permission to meet the former foreign minister, Mr Z.A. Bhutto, in jail to discuss with him the political situation in the country.

Such a meeting, he pointed out, had become all the more necessary in view of President Ayub’s suggestion that the Opposition should produce an alternative political programme.

In a letter addressed to the Provincial Home Secretary, Mr. Masood Nabi Noor, here this evening [Nov 8] he said it was possible to evolve a common programme only if the Opposition leaders had an opportunity to get together and discuss the present situation with one another.

The Air Marshal, in this communication, recalled his telephonic conversation with the Home Secretary on Dec 3 when he had requested the latter for permission to meet Mr Bhutto without any other person being present. But he was informed that a meeting without the presence of a police official could not be permitted, he added.

The presence of a police reporter, the Air Marshal said, would defeat the very object of such a meeting. If the Government could not agree to such a meeting “despite the deteriorating situation in the country”, the Air Marshal would in any case “like to call on Mr. Bhutto in jail”… — Agency

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2018