KARACHI: President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto yesterday [March 19] deprecated the Oppo­sition’s talk of “boycotting” the Constitution-making, and reiterated his willingness to accept whatever logical ... proposals were put forward in the larger national interest. He confirmed that talks were presently going on inside and outside the National Assembly towards arriving at a national consensus on the Constitution. Speaking at the launching of the cargo ship m.v. “Lalazar” … Mr Bhutto maintained that the type of Constitution his Government proposed … was Islamic, federal and democratic.

Mr Bhutto’s speech ... was made in Urdu on the request of the Shipyard workers present in full force. … As the demand for an Urdu speech was voiced, Mr Bhutto began by saying he would comply … but … he belittled the tendency to downgrade English which, he pointed out, was an international language.

He regretted that the people had still not got rid of the British-given slavish mentality and not learnt to think and act as a self-respecting … nation. The Britishers themselves were able administrators, and ruled the vast mass of land from Khyber to Burma … but, we find it difficult to manage even four Provinces. — Staff reporter

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2023