SIALKOT: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto declared here today [April 3] that all those individuals and political parties who had supported “the six points” of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman “have a hand in the separation of East Pakistan”. Addressing a huge public meeting … he said Pakistan was divided while Yahya Khan was in power. The country might not have been divided if his party was in power at that time, he added.

The national flag and the People’s Party flag flew at half mast at the meeting place as a mark of respect to the memory of late King Faisal. … [T]he [PM] said his party never accepted the “six points” … which were designed not to separate East Pakistan alone, but were in fact a conspiracy to divide the country into five parts. Those who supported Sheikh Mujibur Rehman … were still busy in similar intrigues. …

He said further harm would have come to Pakistan if the peoples Government had not ... met the rebellion in Baluchistan. Those who today charged the Government with trying to “destroy” Pakistan had then counselled that a compromise be arrived at with the revolting Sardars of Baluchistan. … He paid rich tributes to the Armed Forces for … defending the frontiers.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2025