WITH the resignation of Malik Khizr Hayat Khan, Premier of the Punjab and his Cabinet on Thursday [Feb 28], the political talks among major party leaders have entered a new and decisive stage. Conversations have taken place between Nawab of Mamdot and other party leaders to explore the possibilities of forming a new Ministry, the Unionists being reduced to the position of helpless spectators. His Excellency the Governor has invited Nawab of Mamdot to see him in Government House at 1030 a.m. on Friday… .

The League-Akali talks on Thursday lasted two hours. It is learnt that the Akali Party has asked the Muslim League to define the position of the Sikhs vis-à-vis Pakistan and accept the Sikh demand for the separate sovereign Sikh State. The Provincial League leaders are believed to have prepared a formula defining the position of the Sikhs vis-à-vis Pakistan. After consulting Nawabzada Liaquat Ali the draft formula will be communicated after lunch to the leader of the Akali. Giani Kartar Singh and Sardar Ujjal Singh, the Akali leaders had their third meeting on Thursday evening with the Muslim League leaders Mian Mumtaz Daultana, Sardar Shaukat Hyat Khan and Raja Ghazanfar Ali.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2021