RAWALPINDI: Mufti Mehmood, General Secretary of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Hazarvi Group) and an MNA elect has said that the future constitution of the country should have an Islamic bias and ensure end of capitalism and a free foreign policy untrammelled by any foreign influence.

Mufti Mehmood who reached here in the morning [Jan 3] from Jhelum, was addressing a largely attended Press conference at Madrasa-i-Furqania Madinia.

… He deplored that for the last 24 years we are without a constitution and the previous constitutions have failed to fulfil the aspirations of the people. He said it was rather unfortunate that the army had to step in for running the civil administration. — Agencies

[Meanwhile, correspondent in Dacca reports] The Awami League chief Sheikh Mujibur Rah­man declared today [Jan 3] ... that his party being in a majority in the National Assembly, had the right to frame the country’s future constitution.

Addressing a historic mass rally at the Ramna race course here this afternoon [Jan 3], the Sheikh […] assured that the Awami League would try to frame the constitution in co-operation with the elected representatives from West Pakistan, but … there would be no compromise on the question of principles. While the Awami League would not ignore others simply because it had the majority, it could not at the same time sacrifice its principles and betray the confidence reposed in it by other people. …

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2021