RAWALPINDI: President Ayub Khan may initiate a dialogue with the leaders of the Opposition on the country’s political situation, it was learnt on good authority here today [Jan 29].

The Information Minister, Khwaja Shahabud­din, and the Adviser to the President, Mr Fida Hasan, who had gone a few days ago to Dacca where the National Assembly is in session, returned here this evening. Khwaja Shahabuddin drove straight to the President’s House a few minutes after his arrival to inform the President of his assessment of the situation after his talks with the Opposition leaders in Dacca. Though he declined to comment when contacted by me as, according to him, the issue was very delicate, he appeared quite hopeful. He is likely to return to Dacca tomorrow to be in time there for the National Assembly debate on the political situation scheduled for Friday.

The Rawalpindi edition of the “Pakistan Times” this morning published a story under the byline of its editor, saying that “the President will shortly issue invitation to the leaders of the Opposition to meet them and thrash out with them the whole constitutional issue”. The report published as its first lead by the newspaper said: “The announcement to this effect may be made in the President’s first-of-the-month broadcast on Feb 1”. Official circles here could not offer any comment on the report. — Correspondent

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2019