Address at Miran Shah on November 22, 1972

Talking to newsmen at Miranshah, headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, during his visit to the tribal areas, President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, insisted that he and Sheikh Mujib should meet before Pakistan recognized its break-away eastern part.

He said that such a meeting was necessary to thrash out various problems. He said he knew the Sheikh well and if these problems were not thrashed out beforehand Mujib could say “good bye.”

Replying to a question, President Bhutto said: Sheikh Mujib in fact needed the meeting more than we do here.

Referring to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s reported statement that Bangladesh would forgive if Pakistan admitted its mistakes, the President said that one should admit one’s mistakes but asked, “What will they get if we admit. Will Sheikh Mujib get a medal if Pakistan did so?”

He said if there were to be talks “then let us sit together and talk seriously.” The delay in establishing contact between the two parts would be harmful to both.

The President said: “Both of us (West and East Pakistan) had committed mistakes and by mutual discussions and talking we will thrash them out and try to rectify them.”

Answering a question form a foreign journalist about the quantum of opposition to Bangladesh recognition in the country, the President said that there was not much of it. The National Assembly, he said, would take the final decision and, therefore, people have no need to worry about an imposed decision.

Questioned on the delay in delineation of line of control in Jammu and Kashmir, the President said that the maps had already been prepared, but the Indians have changed their minds. He asked a foreign journalist whether he had seen these maps because some of them (journalists had been able to see them.

Addressing tribal Maliks and the people of Bannu and Miranshah, the President reminded the people of the losses they would have to face in the economic and financial sectors if a quick decision about Bangladesh was not taken.

He declared if Pakistan recognized the new state today, he would assure the nation that in five years’ time Pakistan would become the strongest power in the subcontinent.

Agency reports add” The President said that Muslim Bengal should not be left at the mercy of others.

He said that he could not develop Pakistan alone. The whole nation had to do this. During the past 25 years wrong decisions landed the country in difficulties. The progress of the country, he said, depended on solution of both internal and external problems.

Pakistan had got to have good relations with the rest of the world because it could not live in isolation.

The President said that his Government was determined to change the whole system in which people did not get due benefits in the past. A new course was being adopted and the people should show patience. Some reforms had been introduced and more would be done but it could not happen immediately.

The President urged the workers to put in hard work to increase production and pointed out that without work they could not be called workers. Nor should they make demands while sitting idle.

He said that after the constitutional accord the Assembly would be able to frame the permanent constitution on its basis. Democracy could work with the cooperation of other parties and they should lend their hand.

The President said that the Government has ensured freedom of Press and expression, but this should not be used for illegal activities.

Those who violate the constitution, law and democratic norms have to be checked as no Government could allow them to carry on their activities with impunity.

Referring to threats of movements, he said that in democracy Assembly, public meetings and the Press were the right channels for campaigning for one’s vies.

Bust agitations could be justified only in dictatorship as in democratic conditions they would be a violation of democracy and “we will not allow any conspiracy against democracy to succeed.”

Those who talk of movements are known to us. Why had they not launched movements in Ayub’s time? The President asked.

He said if recourse was taken to democratic behavior it would be welcome. If the Government commits any mistake it should be told about it through arguments and “our doors are open for negotiations to all.”

The President said that those who were saying some decisions could be taken only over their dead bodies had opposed Pakistan and the Quaid-i-Azam and were those who had used the platform of Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel against Pakistan.