RAWALPINDI: The President Gen. A.M. Yahya Khan has decided to dissolve his council of ministers.... A communique issued by the Cabinet Secretariat (Cabinet Division), this evening [Feb 21] said: “The President Gen. A.M. Yahya Khan, has been pleased to dissolve his Council of Ministers with effect from this morning of Monday, 22nd February, 1971, in view of the political situation obtaining in the country.”

According to general interpretation here, the step implies reactivation of the Council of Administration that was created soon after the imposition of Martial Law in 1969. ... Prior to the appointment of the Cabinet, the President was assisted by three Deputy Chief Martial Law Administrators. — Correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by an agency in Karachi,] A ... two-day Pakistan Peoples Party’s convention last night [Feb 20] decided not to attend the coming session of the National Assembly until such time it was assured that both parts of the country would frame an agreed constitution.

... Mr Abdul Hafeez Pirzada ... said: In our desire to find a lasting settlement we are prepared to proceed to the National Assembly session and to extend to the Awami League our unintended cooperation, provided we are assured that the constitution will be framed on the basis of consensus.”

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2021