PESHAWAR: President Z.A. Bhutto today [March 3] rejected the Opposition demand for lifting the Emergency, condemned the four nationalities theory, and pleaded for recognition of Bangladesh to secure release of Pakistani POWs. In his 60-minute address at a civic reception, he devoted more than half of his time to replying [to] the 12 points of the joint Opposition parties and maintained that his Government was following the true path of democracy.

He said the current situation in Pakistan demanded Emergency more than any other time and also cited the example of India as a country well set on democratic lines with a constitution and civilian Government but yet not lifting the Emergency. He referred to the arms recovery, guerrilla training in Baluchistan, internal and external conspiracies and losses suffered during the last war as the main arguments for maintaining the Emergency… .

He, however, assured that no poor Mazdoor or Kissan would be jailed under these laws which were exclusively meant for the persons who worked against country’s interests like Mian Tufail who pleaded for Army takeover. The President blamed the Opposition parties for being “biggest exploiters” of the poor masses. — Staff Correspondent

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2023