RAWALPINDI: The following is an extract from the text of President Yahya Khan’s broadcast address to the nation on July 28:

“On my part I would like to assure all political parties and individual politicians that my Government shall continue with the policy of absolute and complete impartiality towards you. Let no one tell you anything to the contrary. I would, however, like to state one thing clearly; any individual, any group or any party which propagates against the basic principles of Islam and the ideology and integrity of Pakistan or works towards the creation of rifts in the solidarity of our people will incur the wrath of the people and their Armed Forces. We shall deal with such elements effectively. Let there be no misunderstanding on that score.

A word about our Press. It is obvious that the national press has an extremely important role to play in these critical times. By and large, most of our papers have acted with the requisite sense of responsibility ... I must however, point out that in some cases that temptation to indulge in sensationalism ... is not being resisted. I am not prepared to accept this attitude. I have decreed that there would be no censorship. It is now for you to ensure that there is no licence. ... I would always welcome healthy and constructive criticism but I would not be doing my duty if I do not stop any activity of the Press which I consider to be harmful to Pakistan... The almost unprecedented freedom enjoyed by the Press today must not be allowed to make pressmen forget that the country is under Martial Law.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2019