KARACHI: The Army is in full control of the situation throughout East Pakistan and life is fast returning to normal, the Martial Law authorities said in Dacca today [March 28], according to Radio Pakistan. The Martial Law authorities also stated that reports of fighting in East Pakistan as carried by certain foreign agencies were completely without foundation. Employees of Government offices, autonomous and semi-autonomous corporations are reporting for duty. Employees of Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television Corporation have also returned to work and normal programming has resumed. The Martial Law authorities further stated that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested on the night between 25th and 26th March at his residence. News reports alleging that he had issued any statement or made any broadcast were therefor completely false and without foundation.

...Radio Pakistan also reported that the curfew ... was relaxed for nine hours today. ...Certain categories of persons including journalists, doctors, hospital workers and those related to the supply of water and electricity have been exempted from the curfew restrictions but they shall be required to carry special curfew passes. Meanwhile, the Martial Law Administrator Zone ‘B’ has issued a Martial Law Order which prohibits the putting up of any barricade on roads to obstruct the movement of any vehicle. The order also said that buildings and structures near any such barricade might be demolished and the inmates tried under Martial Law which provides maximum punishments of 10 years rigorous imprisonment. — Agencies

Mujib wanted separation: Mr. Z.A. Bhutto, Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, said in Karachi yesterday [March 27] that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to establish “an independent fascist and racist regime” in East Pakistan. Mr. Bhutto told a Press conference here that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s draft formula presented to the President envisaged, inter alia: no meeting of National Assembly; the N.A. would split into two committees — one to be known as the West Pakistan Committee and the other as the East Pakistan Committee; power should be transferred at the provincial level for the interim period; the two Committees would meet separately — West Wing Committee in Islamabad and East Wing Committee in Dacca; in the interim period, although the main structure of the arrangement would be based on the 1962 Constitution, all powers should be transferred to East Pakistan the basis of the six-point programme.

Mr. Bhutto said that the 1962 Constitution gave no autonomy to the provinces. It only provided decentralised administration. He said that the People’s Party took up this position that if the National Assembly did not met ab initio, in that event a swift polarisation would take place.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2021