From the past pages of dawn: 1966: Fifty years ago: Integration Day
DACCA: The East Pakistan Muslim League has decided to hold a “National Integration Day” on August 14 when Muslim League leaders and workers throughout the province will take a vow to preserve the unity and integrity of the nation and to resist attempts by disruptive and subversive elements within the country as well as by foreign elements who want to divide the nation by creating a rift between the people of different parts of Pakistan.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the ad hoc committee of the East Pakistan Muslim League with Fakir Abdul Mannan in the chair.
A resolution adopted by the committee listed a seven-point detailed programme for the observance of the Integration Day.
By another resolution, the ad hoc committee strongly condemned the moves of some political elements in the province to “create lawlessness, and rift between different sections of the people of Pakistan which threatens to retard the progress and development of the country and also weaken Pakistan”.
[Meanwhile, as reported by our Correspondent from Rawalpindi,] Armed Forces offered equal opportunities to East Pakistanis and except prescribed standards no other considerations guided the recruitment to the three Defence Forces. This was stated by Malik Mohammad Qasim, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, in the National Assembly while opposing cut motions to allocation of new expenditure in respect of the Defence Ministry. The Parliamentary Secretary however made it clear that just for the sake of parity standards of recruitment could not be lowered as it would affect defence potential of Pakistan.
Dr Aleemur Raazi made a strong plea for a measure to make East Pakistan defence impregnable. In the course of a forceful speech Dr Raazi pleaded for a larger share to East Pakistan in defence forces. He also pointed out the low percentage of men and officers from East Pakistan serving the three Defence Services. He suggested the establishment of a military college and installation of defence establishments in East Pakistan.
Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2016