Speech at a garden party in Sibi on February 28, 1973

President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto assured that gradually all out-dated laws will be repealed and replaced by more progressive laws conforming to the conditions and needs of the time.

He was speaking at a garden party held in his honor at the lawns of the Governor’s House. The party was hosted by the Governor of Baluchistan, Sardar Mohammad Akbar Khan Bugti.

The President declared that the “Criminal Laws Special Provisions Ordinance which was reinforced on Quetta city by the outgoing Provincial Government, has been repealed with immediate effect.

The President said that the British rulers had enforced these unjust laws to suit their imperialist interests. Since the British were “whites” and had enforced these laws upon the “blacks” these laws came to be known as “black laws.”

What the former rulers had termed as “black laws” wee in fact the imperialists’ instruments of exploitation and were inhuman in character. As such, he said they cannot fit in under the independent set-up of Pakistan.

As regards the FCR, he said, it shall also be considered. He regretted that what was more deplorable was that those who called themselves independent, held consultations for full five days to arrive at a consensus on the basic framework of the Constitution.

The consensus was not only agreed, but was signed by the leaders of the parties. However, only a short time later they went back on the undertaking.

“Now, we know why they did it. They do not want stability in the country. If there is stability they cannot succeed in their designs for disintegrating the country.”

The President said that first a virulent propaganda went on that the PPP wanted a Presidential form of government and the only argument advanced in support of this contention was that work was going on the construction of the President Palace in Islamabad.

He said, he did not order the construction of the Presidential Palace, it was Ayub Khan who had started its construction and later on Yahya Khan had visited it to see the progress of construction work.

The President said, after the enforcement of permanent Constitution he would become the Prime Minister and come other President would occupy that building. He had come to serve the people and the Pakistan Government could not afford a Prime Minister’s house. He would love to stay in a one-roomed quarter, declared President Bhutto.

He said, if they had only gone through the PPP manifesto they would have discovered that it stood for a parliamentary and federal type of Constitution.

He said, when the Constitution Accord provided for a parliamentary form of Government, they began to shout that it would mean a “one-man rule.”

The President said that even in the United States one individual is elected as the President. In Britain, the Prime Minister was all powerful. But, he asked could United State or Britain be said as being ruled by one man. This was how democracy worked, he said, when a person was democratically elected he had to rule and rule properly for the good of the people.

The President while talking about economic development, said that as accord would soon be signed between Sind and Baluchistan Government for a just distribution of the Indus waters.

President Bhutto assured that Baluchistan would continue to get the same cusecs of water that it was getting before, even after the construction of ‘Kubba branch’ of the Indus.

Henceforth, he said, the ‘Kubba branch’ will be known as ‘Saifullah Magsi Branch.’ Salfullah Magsi is held as one of the great freedom fighters of Baluchistan.

The President assured that he was determined to do justice to all the provinces of Pakistan in all respects as their wholesome development would lead to the overall prosperity of the people of Pakistan.

More detailed discussions on economic development projects would he held at the Governors’ conference being held in Rawalpindi on March 5 which would be attended by all the four Governors, he added.

As regards scarcity of power in the province, he said that when Governor Bugti talked to him about its shortage in Baluchistan, he immediately

Asked the Sind Chief Minister on telephone to spare at least one power generator from Kotri Barrage for the immediate need of Baluchistan.

The President further held out an assurance that he would provide increased funds for development in the next financial year for stepping up the tempo of economic developments. During the current fiscal year, a sum of Rs. 12 crore was allocated to the province under development sector on addition to another amount of Rs.6 crore which would be increased next year.

Regarding the demand of the people of Baluchistan to export rice from this province as it is being exported from the Punjab and Sind, President announced aridest sheers to accept this demand of the public.

He further assured that his party was committed to redeem all the pre-election pledges and promises to the people and in fact in a short span since their coming into power had already introduced a series of reforms which shall have far-reaching effect on the life and living of the people.

In this context he cited the agricultural, labor and health reforms.

The President said, since the inception of Pakistan, 25 years ago, the country passed through three stages in politics. First was when the politics was confined to “palace intrigues”, second was the “Shamiana Siasat” and now we have introduced “people’s polities.”

The President said, he firmly believed in open and heart to heart discussion with his people on the national affairs to ascertain their wishes.

Pakistan People’s Party being in majority could have easily got the sanction of the National Assembly on the recognition of “Bangladesh” but instead the President recalled, he toured extensively Sind and the NWFP to ascertain the wishes of the people on it. The president said that he wanted to tour Punjab and Baluchistan as well for the same purpose but the elections began in Bangladesh which would end on March 7 and after that “we would see what should be done next,” he added.

The president said that when the proper time came the matter regarding the recognition or otherwise of Bangladesh would be taken to the National Assembly.

The President, however, made it clear that his polices was not confined to the National Assembly only.