KHAN Abdul Wali Khan, President of Pakistan National Awami Party, today [Jan 24] criticised the continuation of Martial Law in the country, the appointment of Advisers to the Provincial Governors and the holding of elections to the proposed local bodies. In a lengthy statement issued here after a joint meeting of the NAP and the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Wali Khan said that both the parties believe that “undiluted democracy alone can save the country and restore confidence to keep together whatever is left of Pakistan and that can only be done” when there is a full sense of participation conveyed to all the four corners of the country making them equal partners in sharing political power. The statement urged upon all patriots to rise above party politics... . — Staff correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by a staff correspondent from Karachi,] President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto yesterday [Jan 23] pleasantly surprised the businessmen and industrialists by setting Feb 15 as the fresh deadline for the return of foreign exchange held abroad. … Mr Bhutto reiterated ... that there would be no more takeover of the categories of industries other than those already taken over.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2022