N.A. HALL: Khan Abdul Wali Khan, Leader of the Opposition in the Nation Assembly, called for establishment of “pure and undiluted democracy” in the country and termed it as the first step towards opening a dialogue with the Government. … He said he did not want to discuss the Budget … but dealt at length on the country’s political situation. He said a “ceasefire” between the Government and the Opposition was a pre-requisite to negotiations. … He cautioned against any interference in the democratic process and emphasised that such an act would lead to a situation similar to that of East Pakistan.

[Meanwhile,] Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto disclosed in the [NA] today [June 19] a plot to assassinate him in Lahore during the Islamic Summit in February this year. The plot was foiled by Pakistani intelligence. He said the assassination plot was hatched at Jalalabad, in Afghanistan, in complicity with Mr Ajmal Khattak, a former General Secretary of National Awami Party, now in self-exile in that country. [PM] Bhutto said he would have not disclosed this plot … but he was forced by the … accusations made by Khan Wali Khan against the Pakistan Govern­­ment of murderous attacks against him.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2024