RAWALPINDI: The Prime Minister said today [Dec 19] that during the past two years the country had made significant progress in strengthening national unity, laying the foundation of democracy and rehabilitating and stimulating the economy. Referring to the question of establishment of ties with Bangladesh, Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said that such a development would correspond to the interest of Bangladesh as well as Pakistan. As a matter of fact, he felt that normalisation of relations, while being mutually beneficial, would suit the interests of Bangladesh to an even greater extent. He was not satisfied with Dacca’s response to Pakistan’s overtures and initiatives.

Dealing with the change in stewardship of Sind, Mr Bhutto expressed his warm appreciation of the services rendered … by the outgoing Chief Minister, Mr Mumtaz Ali Bhutto. … In an exclusive interview to the Editor of “Dawn” … Mr Bhutto made a wide-ranging survey of the record of the People’s Party Government since it took office on Dec 20, 1971. … Asked about his assessment of the Government’s two-year record in the promotion of democratic traditions, Mr Bhutto said, “It takes a long time to develop democratic traditions.”

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2023