RAWALPINDI: President Yahya Khan today [June 28] announced his plan to transfer power to the elected representatives of the people both at the National and Provincial levels and said that it would take place in about four months’ time. In his long-awaited broadcast to the nation this evening, the President said he had come to the conclusion that the task of framing a constitution by an Assembly was not feasible and there was no alternative for him but to have a constitution prepared by a group pf experts. He declared that there will be no fresh general elections but bye-elections will be held to fill vacancies of such MNAs and MPAs as will be disqualified.

The President also said ... that since the nation had recently been subjected to a very severe jolt, it had been decided to provide Martial Law cover to the national and provincial governments for some time. The Constitution Committee had already been set up, he said and a draft was being prepared within the framework of certain guidelines already laid down. He would consult with the various leaders of the Assembly regarding the provisions of the draft which would be given final shape in the light of these discussions.

The new Constitution would be subjected to amendment by the National Assembly which would become the Central Legislature as soon as it was sworn in. He said he had banned the Awami League as a political party but the MNAs and MPAs-elect of this defunct party retained their status as such in their individual capacities. However, he said, those elected members who had taken part in the anti-State activities or had committed criminal acts or had indulged in anti-social activities will be disqualified from membership of the National and Provincial Assemblies. The President expressed his disagreement with the view that power should not be transferred to the elected representatives of the people until complete normalcy has returned in every sphere and described it as “utterly unrealistic and impracticable”.

...[T]he President said ... the plan in its entirety could not be launched immediately because it was important that a reasonable amount of normalcy returned to the country before power was transferred. But on the other hand the launching of the plan must not be delayed unduly.

... The Army, he said, was in full control of the situation in East Pakistan but it will take some time before the law and order situation became completely normal. ... The President said he would ask those MNAs and MPAs-elect of the defunct Awami League who had nothing to do with secessionist policies of the ruling clique … and who were not guilty of any criminal acts in pursuance of such policies or who had not committed atrocities against their fellow Pakistanis, to come forward and play their part in rebuilding the political structure in East Pakistan. … — Special Representative

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2021