PESHAWAR: An important announcement about Baluchistan will be made by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on Oct 14 or 15. This was disclosed by the [PM] himself at a Press conference here today [Oct 8]. Mr. Bhutto said that the announcement which would be made by him in Quetta during his forthcoming visit to Baluchistan would be a pleasant one. … [He] said that he had been working hard on this problem ever since he assumed power in December, 1971. … He … lashed out at the Opposition … and the NAP, in particular, for their latest stance on this issue and said that they had realised the failure of their game as the Marri and Mengal brethren were coming down the hills to participate in … national reconstruction. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported from Lahore,] the Federal Health Minister, Sheikh Mohammad Rashid, announced here today [Oct 8] that the Government intended to institute cases under Section 304 PPC (intent to murder) against the striking doctors in whose wards any death had occurred due to their negligence. Addressing MNAs, MPAs and workers of the People’s Party … he warned the junior doctors to either resume their duties by tomorrow morning or get ready to face the dire consequences.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2024