PRESS INTERVIEW AT TANDO MOHAMMAD KHAN July 30, 1972

President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto disclosed that very soon he would be making certain basic changes in the Sindh administration to restore confidence of the general public. The President was talking informally to Karachi correspondents, who accompanied him on his tour of Sindh, at a dinner he had hosted for them at Tando Mohammad Khan.

He said he was trying to put in key positions the officers, who are neither Sindhis nor Muhajirs, so that they remained neutral and served the people to the best of their ability.

He also disclosed that he “will be watching the activities” of Mr. G.M. Syed, who is to start a tour of the Sindh’s interior, and if he continued spreading hatred, the Government will have to proceed against him.

He also warmed the NAP Secretary-General, Mr. Mahmudul Haq Usmani, and asked him to stop issuing inflammatory statements; otherwise, the Government will have no alternative but to take action against him.

The President said his Government would provide all facilities for the rehabilitation of those affected by the language disturbances.

He again appealed to those who had left Larkana and other Sindh towns to return to their homes. He assured them that nothing would happen to them now. He said his party members played “a very active role in stopping the disturbances from escalating. Leaders like Talibul Maula used their influence to save the situation from worsening.”

The President said the opposition had played “a very dirty role” in the crisis, but hoped that they would realize their duty to the country now and help create conditions of peace and harmony.

The following are some of the questions and their answers given by the President.

Interviewer: During the tour, we found the damage report, highly exaggerated. But we also noticed a general lack of trust in the administration. What is your frank assessment of the situation? Did you also feel the same way as we did? If so, what steps are you contemplating to redress the grievances?

President: Yes, people came and complained to me about the administration’s partiality. As for the Government, I can say with confidence that there is absolutely no feeling or prejudice against any section of the population. We have a very simple but sincere Governor.

He has made his political career in a Muhajir constituency and was elected from there. He has no prejudice against any one. It is just a coincidence that fortunately or unfortunately the majority composition of the Sindh Assembly is made of people from a particular linguistic group, but that does not mean that they are partial. There are grievances against the administration. These grievances will continue until confidence is restored fully.

There are Muhajir officers in Sindhi populated areas and there are Sindhi officers in Muhajir populated areas. But I am trying to put in key position people who are from neither side.

We have already appointed a Chief Secretary for Sindh, who is neither a Sindhi nor a Mohajir. But basically it would be the role of the politicians that will bring in the real harmony.

If Mr.Usmani (Mahmudl Haq) and Mr. G. M. Syed again start upsetting what we have tried to normalize, I’ll have to proceed against them.

Interviewer: Mr. G. M. Syed has been in the habit of giving statements that inflame people’s sentiments. Only recently, in an interview with an Indian journalist he proposed exchange of population and also called for creating a separate “Sindhu Desh.” Any comment?

President: The statement of Mr. G. M. Syed has to be verified because it is still not an authentic account. You can’t go by mere press reports. Whatever he may have said to the Indian journalist, he can turn down and say something else tomorrow. The point is whether he has said it or not, I know his thinking very well. For me it is not one statement, we have known him for years. If he persists in his activities, we have known him for years. If he persists in his activities, we will have to take action against him.

Interviewer; Mr. Syed is starting a tour of the Sindh province from August. He might undo whatever you have tried to achieve during your eight-day tour of the interior.

President: We will be watching his activities.

Interviewer; Do you really think with the signing of an accord, the language problem has been permanently solved? Or will it, in your opinion, erupt again?

President: Depends on how you deal with the situation. On how you present and in what light you present the accord to the people. It depends on whether you want to create confidence and bring about proper conditions, brotherly feelings, harmony or you want to ruin peace in the province.

Interviewer: In your Karachi speech, you asked the People’s Party workers to work for healing the wounds. Has any directive been sent to the party branches in this connection?

President: I have asked PPP leaders and workers to restore confidence among the people, to do all they can to heal the wounds. But I am happy that PPP leaders all over Sindh played a very active role in stopping the disturbances from escalating. Each member did well in his own area of influence. People like Talibul Maula, they command respect and influence in their areas, did a good job. Otherwise the whole of Sindh would have been aflame.

Interviewer: The Punjab Governor has said his Government will send back Punjabi settlers to Sindh on its own expenses. Will the Sindh Government also make a similar gesture to Urdu-speaking population that has shifted from Larkana and other places and is now living in camps under sub-human conditions?

President: Yes, why not? It is not a very big problem. We will provide all facilities for their rehabilitation.

Interviewer: Has anyone in the Government approached them? We visited some of these people in Hyderabad relief camps and we found them in pathetic conditions.

President: Yes, we have established contacts with them. Besides, I have personally announced to stand guarantee for their safety and protection. What bigger guarantee could I give? They should return to their places of work. No harm will come to them now.

Interviewer; In your speeches, you have been repeatedly criticizing the opposition. Why?

President: Because they played a very dirty role in this crisis, sent bogus and false telegrams and tried to involve Punjab in the affair. However, if they think they can oust me through negative methods, they are living in a fool’s paradise.

Interviewer: In one of your speeches, you had said you were not Malik Feroze Khan Noon to take things idly by. What did you imply?

President: We know the situation. But will act swiftly and speedily if anything is done to sabotage a people’s government.

Interviewer: What are your tour impressions?

President: I think, we have been able to resolve the lingering wounds. I think it has contributed to national solidarity.

Interviewer: What prompted you to announce Government participation in an opposition-sponsored Press Freedom Day?

President: Because we uphold and value the freedom of the Press. But freedom does not mean downright abuse. Freedom is not the name of something that incites violence, something that invites dictatorship, something that invites Armed Forces to take over from a democratic regime.

Interviewer: Is there any possibility of putting the newspapers under worker’s control?

President: There is a possibility, such a thing can happen.