KARACHI: Mr Z.A. Bhutto announced yesterday [Dec 27] that he will be visiting East Pakistan next month for initiating a dialogue with Shaikh Mujibur Rehman on the Constitution. However, he explained to a crowded Press conference at his Clifton residence that the visit ... was aimed at preventing Pakistan from plunging into another constitutional muddle.

The People’s Party, he said, was ... ever-prepared to facilitate “a genuine constitutional settlement between East and West Pakistan”. … Mr Bhutto explained that a general agreement of all the federating units was a must for ensuring durability of any future constitution. … He said if the majority party insisted on making a constitution of its own liking he would step aside. He, however, said that in such an event, the People’s Party would not be responsible for the consequences... . — Agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by an agency in New Delhi,] President V.V. Giri has ordered the dissolution of Parliament and directed the nation to go to the polls to elect a new Parliament... . Giri made the move following the advice of Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi, who earlier in a meeting with the President suggested mid-term elections, a year ahead of schedule.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2020