Address at a public meeting in Rawalpindi on December 1, 1972
President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, addressing a public meeting, said that the decision on the recognition of Bangladesh had to be taken by the National Assembly though, he pointed out, Baluchistan, Sindh and N.W.F.P. by and large supported the recognition move.
He emphasized again the need for a correct decision on the issue but said recognition would come only when the people had approved it and the leaders of Dacca and Islamabad have had a meeting to discuss their future relationship.
He emphasized that he would not like to see Muslim Bengal go entirely under Indian hegemony.
The President said that Pakistan had to take a realistic view of things and only then could the country overcome its internal and external difficulties.
There could be no development if wrong decisions were taken, he added.
The President said that in his humble opinion the restoration of links with the seven crore Muslims of East Pakistan was essential. Only then the bitterness could be removed and relations improved.
He said that the Muslims of East and West Pakistan had lived together for 25 years and struggled for the achievement of Pakistan.
The President urged the people to have confidence in their Government’s leadership, assuring that he would never compromise on principles and national dignity while dealing with the Bangladesh question or any other mater.
He asked the people to realize the advantage Pakistan was able to secure through the Simla Agreement with India and said it was no mean success to have persuaded India to restore over 5,000 square miles of Pakistan territory. He pointed out that nearly one million displaced persons from Indian-occupied Pakistani villages were living virtually like indigent population.
The President dealt at length with the role of certain reactionary parties which were now fanning hatred against his Government on the Bangladesh issue and other matters. He said it should not be forgotten that these reactionary political elements had conspired in the past with the dictatorship of Ayub Khan and Yahya Khan to maintain them in power so that the will of the people could not find its due place in the affairs of the country.
He said the elections had demonstrated that these reactionary elements enjoyed no support among the toiling masses.
The President said that these reactionary elements had joined hands with Ayub Khan at the time of the round-table conference in Rawalpindi to secure release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who, he said, had been guilty of conspiring with India for the so called independence of East Pakistan, according to conclusive proof Ayub Khan had got against him (Sheih Mujib). If Mujib’s trial was allowed to reach its natural end, the President said, the was sure Mujib would have been found guilty and would have been prevented from carrying out his secession plan later as he did last year.
The President recalled how Pakistan was able to persuade China to veto the admission of Bangladesh to the United Nations. He said that he pleaded, through his two envoys, with Chinese Prime Minister Chou En-lai to exercise China’s right of veto in the Security Council on the Bangladesh issue in the interest of both countries and peace at large.
China’s veto, he said, had thrown cold water on Sheikh Mujib’s hopes of walking into the United Nations without any real opposition.
Lately, he pointed out, his Government was able to persuade UN General Assembly to adopt interdependent resolutions on Bangladesh’s membership and repatriation of prisoners of war which can be regarded a truly great diplomatic triumph of Pakistan in that body where it looked a few days ago as if there were only two against 130 and odd members opposed to the entry of Bangla Desh.
The President also paid handsome tributes to the Vietnam struggle and said he hoped peace would be restored in Vietnam soon sparing further blood-letting. He said it was indeed tragic that while disputes over phrasing of peace agreement were consuming unduly long time, blood of many more innocent people was being shed in Vietnam.
The President said that he had sent congratulatory cable today to China for its resolute support to Pakistan in the United Nations and sent another cable to Raja Tridev Roy expressing people’s happiness over the role he played in the United Nations.
He would receive hero’s welcome when he returns home, the President said and added as an East Pakistani and non-Muslim he surpassed many in the distinctive role at the United Nations.
The President said that despite limited resources his Government was paying full attention, on the basis of priority, to the defence of the country. He pointed out that India had expanded its military strength.
He said that the nation could not afford to ignore defence. “We have already suffered a lot on the question of Kashmir, Junagadh, and lately on East Pakistan. We could not afford any more losses. The country has to be defended.”
Agency adds: The President said that only the other day one Pakistani Captain Niazi was shot dead in a POW camp in India. Such tragic incidents, he said, would go on repeating if correct decision were not taken at appropriate time.
He said: Pakistan does not want any bargaining for the repatriation of POW’s but Pakistan would have to take realistic steps keeping in mind the national interests.
He said the feelings of separation existed in East Pakistan since long. The people there wanted to live separately and solve their problems themselves. Even the large amounts of funds spent there had not removed this feeling and they remained adamant.
Reviewing the economic situation in the country, the President said that given some time, he would change the entire economic complexion of the country. He said that the PPP was a revolutionary party and its Government was also revolutionary.
The PPP, he said, was capable of waging a revolutionary struggle and at the same time it was also prepared to face the elections. He stressed that the country needed complete, tranquility, good relations with neighbors and adherence to democratic practice for development and prosperity.
For more houses and more jobs the people would have to put in more work and rely on the leadership at the helm of affairs.
Morning News Report