KARACHI: Mr Z.A. Bhutto … said in Karachi yesterday [Sept 2] that the process of associating civilians with the administration could be genuine and effective only when power and responsibility were entrusted to the elected representatives of the people. … [H]e said, the mere appointment of Dr [A.M.] Malik as the civilian Governor of East Pakistan and the projected formation of his Council of Ministers were not by themselves the proper steps towards democratization… . Mr Bhutto … called for the transfer of power — “full, complete and total” as he put it — to help tackle the “crises-packed” social, economic and political problems… .

He disclosed that a date had been fixed for another round of talks between himself and President Yahya Khan and also between the PPP constitutional advisers and the President’s aides. … But he said: “We have had enough of protracted negotiations that should now come to some sort of conclusion.” Mr Bhutto cautioned that time … was running out, while political, social and economic problems were galloping on. The forthcoming talks in Rawalpindi should be “fruitful and productive” in relation to the … discussions already held, he added.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2021