LAHORE: Khan Abdul Wali Khan, President of the National Awami Party, today [March 27] suggested an immediate session of the National Assembly to take the people into confidence about the “objective realities of the current national and international situation”. Talking to newsmen here this evening, he said a serious situation seems to have developed during the course of the past 10 days and the “threat given by President Bhutto to resign could not be ignored”. The nation could not live in a vacuum and an immediate session of the National Assembly could be largely helpful to avert such a situation.

Mr Abdul Wali Khan said it was essential that the nation be taken into confidence regarding the results of the President’s visit to Peking and Moscow and about the negotiation being conducted through others with India and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He reiterated that the method of getting a verdict or approval of policies through public meetings … should be discarded. The problems … were national in character and must be dealt with at that level. Mr Wali Khan said … President Bhutto’s statement … two days back … had … created a new situation and it seemed that negotiations with India had reached a stalemate.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2022