KARACHI: Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan, President of the Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum Group), said here ... his party was of the view that there should be by-elections in East Pakistan. The Khan flew in from Peshawar ... and was profusely garlanded and welcomed by a drum-beating crowd at the Karachi airport. Talking to newsmen in the VIP room, he said “It is the right time the country should have a constitution which should protect its ideology.”

… Questioned whether in his opinion, a time like this was suitable for transfer of power to take place, he observed “we have no objection to the early transfer of power, but it should take place simultaneously in both the Wings of the country, because if that does not happen, there will again be a charge against us of discriminating against East Pakistan. We don’t want to have any charges to be levelled against us”.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Sylhet,] After having wiped out the Indian Border Security Force, which infiltrated into Sylhet district, the Pakistani troops are now firmly established at both the banks of Surma river at Seolamukh Ferry, writes PPI special correspondent in East Pakistan. The troops are also patrolling the area between the river and the Indian border, four miles away....

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2021