RAWALPINDI: President Z.A. Bhutto declared that … when we are faced with temporary sadness … we shall not erase the Quaid-i-Azam’s vision of Pakistan from our minds and hearts and that we shall not betray our own future generations. The President made these observations ... on the occasion of the Quaid-i-Azam’s birthday anniversary ... . — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by the staff correspondent from Rawalpindi,] …Mr. Z.A. Bhutto today [Dec 24] ordered an enquiry into the military debacle in East Pakistan and the ceasefire in the West and appointed a Commission headed by Mr. Justice Hamoodur Rehman, Chief Justice of Pakistan, to conduct the enquiry.

The Chairman has been given full powers to enable the Enquiry Commission to conduct a thorough and comprehensive enquiry. The enquiry, according to the order, is being held under Commission of Enquiries Act, 1956. The Act provides for establishment of a very high-powered Commission to investigate into any matter of public importance and empowers the Commission to call any document or any individual considered relevant for the enquiry. The Act also empowers the Commission to hold its proceedings either in the open or in camera.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2021