LAHORE: The Convention League chief, Mr Fazlul Quader Chowdhry, today [July 15] suggested that a national conference of important leaders of public opinion irrespective of their political affiliations should be held by the end of August to consider the ways and means of tiding over the present national crisis.

He believed that in view of the recent broadcast of the President, the National Assembly, which had been elected with a mandate to frame the constitution, would no longer be in a position to play the same role. Leaders of public opinion must, therefore, advise the President on the future constitutional set-up, he added. Mr Fazlul Quader, who was addressing a Press conference, expressed the view that the national conference should also evolve a formula which would integrate the aspirations of the people of various parts of the country and consequently the concept of national integration could be firm and unshakable.

… Mr Chowdhry said that ... some people had suggested to him that since the majority party in East Pakistan had gone out due to their follies, elections in that wing should be held afresh. He pointed out that the East Pakistan problem sho­uld be solved politically. The Indian agents sho­u­­ld be weeded out, he emphasised.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2021