LYALLPUR: President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said here today [Oct 26] that people of Pakistan have to accept the reality of the separation of East Pakistan sooner or later, which was the only way to win back the people of that Wing. Speaking at a reception given by the Pakistan People’s Party workers ... this evening, the President said that withholding of recognition of Bangladesh would cause further bitterness between the people of the two Wings and if the people of West Pakistan wanted to bring the people of Muslim Bengal in their fold again, they should try to comprehend the reality.

He, however, said the final decision lay with the people and he would do nothing without taking their consent. He said he would tour the whole country after Ramzan to explain the whole issue to them and, after examining their views, he would take a decision about recognition of Bangladesh.

Explaining the merits and demerits ... the Pre­s­­ident said that Pakistan would gain nothing by refusing to accept the reality of Bangladesh. He said if people of East Pakistan had not wanted se­­­paration, India could never have dared to launch aggression against Pakistan; they were fed up with the rulers of Pakistan during the last 25 years, he said. He said the Mukti Bahini and other forces fought against the Pakistan Army. In their support India came in, which in normal circumstances India could never do. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2022