QUETTA: Mr Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party, told a Press conference here ... that during one of his recent meetings with the President, Gen Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan, he laid down certain principles for transfer of power to the elected representatives. He expressed the hope that the President would accept those principles and announce his plan in his broadcast to the nation on June 28 next. Mr Bhutto said that he and his party were ready to hold further talks with the President on this subject and to work out the details.

He reiterated his demand for early transfer of power which, he thought, was in the best interests of the country and would put to an end to foreign interference and pressures. In this context he cited two examples where foreign pressure was exerted by certain Powers on both India and Pakistan to get things settled on their terms.

… He said it would have been much better if power had been transferred before the Consortium pressure had come in. … Asked if he would be satisfied if his manifesto was accepted in toto and carried out by the present Government, Mr Bhutto said that it could not be carried out without political parties. He said even the former President Ayub Khan had ultimately reached that conclusion and evolved a political cover for his policies by associating himself with a political party. — Agencies

Indian threat to security

[Meanwhile, as reported by a staff representative in Rawalpindi,] A Foreign Office spokesman said ... that the situation created by India has caused serious concern to the Government of Pakistan and it “has taken suitable action to invite the attention of the heads of the Governments of all countries” to this situation. He said there had been increasing incidents of violation of the Pakistan territory by the Indian Army and the Border Security Force — through repeated firing and intrusions.

Calcutta Mission staff

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Islamabad,] Pakistan is awaiting confirmation from New Delhi of the arrangements between Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Mehdi Masud, and the East Pakistani staff of the Calcutta Mission for ascertaining their wishes with regard to their repatriation to this country. The two Governments have already agreed that the East Pakistani personnel, who are alleged to have defected, would meet separately and individually with Mr Mehdi Masud in the presence of Swiss and Indian Government representatives.

... A Foreign Office spokesman ... said: “On the receipt of confirmation of arrangements from New Delhi it would be possible to determine whether any progress has been made on the reciprocal evacuation of personnel from Calcutta and Dacca.”

“Meanwhile, India has withdrawn its earlier proposal that an Iranian Government representative should also be present at these meetings.”

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2021