KARACHI: President Yahya Khan said ... that he would announce his plan for the transfer of power to the elected representatives of the people, in about two to three weeks. Addressing a Press conference at the President’s House here, he reiterated that his main aim was transfer of power to the people’s representatives and that he will move to fulfil his aim as soon as normalcy was restored in East Pakistan. The President said that he had worked hard to have the elections held.... He would not let this achievement go waste.

He, however, was emphatic ... that he would never hand over power to chaos just what the outlawed Awami League secessionists had wanted. He admitted that the rebellious move of the banned Awami League in East Pakistan had come as a rude shock to him and had caused a severe jolt to his plan of transferring power. But he emphasised that he had not lost faith in his plan which he would put through as soon as circumstances permitted.

… President Yahya Khan told a questioner he saw no reason why all those elected on the outlawed Awami League ticket should be disqualified. He said only those who revolted against Pakistan or were guilty of commission of crime would lose their Assembly seats...

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2021