Address at Shakargarh on January 29, 1973

President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto assured that no Power on earth would be able to commit aggression on Pakistan in future, and the displaced persons, who returned to their war-battered homes, would live for generations in peace without harboring fear of aggression.

The President was addressing the displaced persons at a local relief centre.

The president said that whatever happened to the country in the past was the result of incompetence of the previous regimes, but now all out efforts were being made to repair the damage and build Pakistan into a strong country.

He said that no country could have a strong defence without having a sound economy, and the present Government was making every effort to strengthen the country economically.

The President said that the people who returned to their places following the withdrawal of Indian troops had suffered a heavy lass.

The Government was providing all kinds of facilities to the DPs for rehabilitating them, he said.

He said that some DPs had complained that the financial assistance to be given to them was not adequate, he said that he had ordered this assistance enhanced.

The President said that he was very keen on having the Shakargarh area vacated by the Indian troops before the Rabi sowing season.

The Government, he pointed out, was providing various facilities to the peasants. It would also provide them tractors to ensure better yield. The President regretted that the United Nations, which rushed its relief teams to every calamity affected area had not done anything concrete to help rehabilitate our DPs.

He said, while the UN teams were sent to other calamity affected areas, Pakistan was only asked to submit papers regarding the “ magnitude of our damage.”

He said, we had declined to submit such papers to the world body as “we do not want to go with a begging bowl before anybody”

He said, the extent of damage done to Pakistan as a result of the Indian aggression was known the world over, and it could be ascertained by anyone anxious to help Pakistan.

The declared that Pakistan wanted to live as a self-respecting country and it was determined to realize its destiny “no matter what odds cone our way.”

He said, there were countries which submitted exaggerated claims of damage to the world body to seek assistance, but Pakistan had decided to rely on its own meager resources instead of making appeals for help.

Later, the President visited other war-hit areas in the Shakargarh sector.

He urged the people to cooperate with him in enabling him to make Pakistan impregnable so that no enemy in future dared to commit aggression against Pakistan.

He said Pakistan could become impregnable only when its economy becomes strong, the people were well provided for and there was self-reliance in the field of defence and food.

He wanted the cooperation and support of everyone to make Pakistan according to the ideals for which it was achieved. He wanted to make Pakistan strong and prosperous. Banish poverty, distress and exploitation so that although Pakistan had ceased to be the largest Muslim state, it should emerge as the most powerful Muslim state in the world.

The president said that Pakistan had been the victim of an international conspiracy and had been cut into two. India had repeatedly committed aggression and interfered in the internal affairs of Pakistan. On the other hand, Pakistan had never interfered in the affairs of India because Pakistan wanted peace. In spite of these events, some elements still blamed Pakistan.

He said it was India that had been guilty of aggression. She had occupied Kashmir and resoled from the commitment to hold plebiscite.

In the past, Pakistan had suffered because of certain mistakes. “These mistakes will not be repeated, “ he said, and added. “The welfare of the people will henceforth be the primary task of this Government.”

If the people were satisfied, it was the best defence, because then they were bound to make greater sacrifices for their country.

He also regretted the lack of private help within Pakistan for the displaced person in the war-affected zones. There were people who came out with high sounding words and tall promises, but they had nothing practical to offer. In other countries, in such eventualities, relief committees were formed and individual charity was pooled for such cause.

At Shakargarh, the President addressed those who had come from Pasrur and were waving placards, demanding the location of a sugar factory there. He promised them that Punjab would be allocated another sugar factory and this would be located at Pasrur.

The President made a reference to the devastation of the area when he said that the Indians had spelled ruin. There were no trees. The upper crust of fertile land had turned hard because it had remained uncultivated.

All the houses needed rebuilding and all the roads and pathways similarly would have to be repaved. “The Government, most certainly will do this job,” he assured the returnees.