The Daily
Morning News
05 SEPTEMBER 1971
News headlines and details from the Daily Morning News.
News Headlines:
- Yahya grants general amnesty. Another step to restore full normalcy.
- Tikka Khan made corps commander
- US to double food relief for East Pakistan
- Indians collecting relief supplies for avaricious purposes
- By-
elections within four months: LPO amended. - Abshire calls on president
- India using DPs as pawns, Japanese press told.
- Committee on economy of accommodation constituted
- Bhutto donates Rs. 4,000 for flood victims
Other Headlines:
- Defence Day programme: Nation to pay homage to martyrs tomorrow
Rawalpindi Sept. 4 (PPI): President Gen. A.M. Yahya Khan has granted general amnesty to all those who have committed or alleged to have committed offences during the disturbances in East Pakistan beginning march 1 and ending September 5.
A communique issued by the president's secretariat said that this amnesty will also extend to personnel belonging to Armed Forces, the East Pakistan Rifles, Police, Mujahids and Ansar.
The communique said, criminal proceedings have been initiated against certain MNAs/MPAs elect of East Pakistan and certain other limited number of individuals. They are also being afforded sufficient opportunity to clear themselves of the charges before the courts set up.
On this day, Sunday, 5th of September 1971, the president has granted general amnesty to all those who have committed or alleged to have committed offences during the disturbances in East Pakistan beginning 1st March 1971 and ending 5th September 1971, This amnesty will also extend to personnel belonging to the Armed Forces, The East Pakistan Rifles, Police, Mujahids and Ansars.
It is hoped that the grant of general amnesty by the president, in pursuance of his policy of national reconciliation. will remove all manner of doubt, fear and anxiety from the minds of those who may have committed offences during the course of any due to the heat generated by political disturbances in East Pakistan and gone outside the country or underground. All such persons irrespective of religion, caste or creed are now free to come forward if they are within the country and if outside, return to their homeland to rejoin on their families and resume their vocations.
Instructions have been issued to the Government of East Pakistan to give immediate effect to the general amnesty declared by the president and to assist all such persons in their rehabilitation as law abiding citizens so that every one of them can contribute to the economic regeneration of East Pakistan and strengthening the solidarity of the country.
The grant of general amnesty marks another step forward in the president's resolve to restore full normalcy in the country.
Rawalpindi, Sept. 4 (PPI): Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan till recently Governor and Martial Law Administrator, East Pakistan, has been appointed commander of a corps in West Pakistan, according to an official announcement.
Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan has been succeeded by Dr. A.M. Malik as Governor of east Pakistan.
Washington, Sept. 4 (Reuter): The United States is doubling its food relief programme for East Pakistan, a senior state Department official disclosed yesterday.
Deputy Administrator Maurice J. Williams of the Administration for International Development (AID) speaking to reporters after returning from the strife torn region where the food problem has been compounded by major flooding of the river Ganges, said it appeared very large famine could occur.
The United States is negotiating a new "food for peace" agreement totaling 40 million dollars (165 millions sterling) to supply wheat and edible oils to East Pakistan.
This will be in addition to the 35 million dollars (14.5 million sterling) in food supplies already committed for East Pakistan relief efforts by the United States, he said.
Total US humanitarian relief for Pakistani refugees in India as well as the hungry in the strife torn nation totals 120 million dollars (50 million sterling to date).
Special Relief
AFP reports from Washington: The first major shipment under a 30,000 ton US special relief contribution of high protein food blends for East Pakistan Children arrived in Chittagong, East Pakistan last Wednesday the Agency for International Development announced here Friday.
The shipment consists of 6, 800 tons of instant corn soup milk and wheat blend, donated under the food for peace programme.
The ship also carried 5,000 tons of wheat provided under the food for peace programme of the UN Food and Agriculture organisation. The 30,000 tons of food authorized by AID will be for East Pakistani refugee children in India as well as children in East Pakistan itself.
Islamabad, Sept. 4 (APP): A West German daily, General Amzeiger of Bonn has disclosed that Indian "Social workers" in collaboration with some foreigners are collating relief supplies in the name of East Pakistani refugees to serve their avaricious purposes."
According to a DPA report published by the daily on August 24, the vice-
Quoting the News criminal police the report said that the trio wanted to sell the medicines in Yugoslavia for hard cash, but they fell apart at Munich where they developed some quarrel over the bargain.
After the dispute, Volmerich turned his two partners out abruptly and told them to be off. Not liking this treatment, Harbans Kaur and her son reported the matter to the police, who ordered the arrest of all the three.
Islamabad, Sept. 4 (PPI): The president has issued an order (P.O.I) amending legal Frame work order 1970 providing that where a seat in the National or in a provincial Assembly has become vacant, an election to fill the vacancy shall be held within four months form occurrence of the vacancy.
The amending order also, provided that where a seat in the National Assembly or in a provincial Assembly fell vacant before the commencement of the legal Frame work (Second Amendment) order 1971 an election to the vacancy shall be held within four months from such commencement.
The order substitutes clause seven of the LFO under which the by elections fell due within three weeks of the occurrence of the vacancy.
The following is the text of the order (P.O.No. 9). where as it is expedient further to amend the legal Frame work order 1970 (P.O.No. 2 of 1970) for the purpose hereinafter appearing.
Now therefore, in pursuance of the proclamation of the 25th day of March 1969 and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf the president and chief Martial Law Administrator is pleased to a make the following order.
Short title and commencement
(1) This order may be called the legal Framework (Second Amendment) order 1971.
(2) It shall come into force at once. substitution of article 7. P.O. No. of 1970.
(3) In the legal Framework order 1970(P.O. No. 2 of 1970) for article 7 the following be substituted namely "casual vacancy."
(4) where a seat in the National Assembly has become vacant an election to fill the vacancy shall be held within four months from the occurrence of the vacancy.
Provided that where a seat in the National Assembly fell vacant before the commencement of the legal Framework (Second Amendment) order 1971, an election to fill the vacancy shall be held within four months from such commencement.
Rawalpindi, Sept. 4(APP): Mr. David M. Abshire Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations, US state Department called on president Yahya Khan at the president's House here this morning.
Another report adds: Mr. David Mr. Abshire, United States Assistant Secretary of State for congressional Relations, was the chief guest at a luncheon given for him by the ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The luncheon was attended by the Additional Foreign secretary, Mr. Mumtaz A. Alvie, the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. Joseph S. Farland and High officials.
Mr. Abshire declined to comment on the Nature of talks with the president.
He is due to leave here for Teheran tomorrow by the RCD flight at the end of his three day visit to the capital.
Tokyo, Sept. 4(APP): Syed Motahar Hussain, Pakistan ambassador to Japan, said here on Thursday that India was creating obstacles to the return of the displaced persons with the aim of using them as pawns in the Indian political game.
Addressing a largely attended press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Hussain briefed the press about the significance of the appointment of Dr. A.M. Malik as East Pakistan Governor in President Yahya's scheme for restoration of democracy and transfer of power to a civilian administration.
The Ambassador mentioned the long and distinguished political career of Dr. Malik and expressed the hope that the president's latest step would fully normalise the East Pakistan situation.
Mr. Hussain also declared that the authentic figure for the number of persons who had crossed over into India was two million and said that these figures had been arrived at after a house to house survey in all the districts in East Pakistan.
Replying to a questions regarding the disparity in figures of displaced persons given by India and the figures revealed by the Pakistan Government, the Ambassador said West Bengal had a large population of destitute persons and while it was difficult to say exactly how the Indian authorities came to the figure of eight millions. It is quite possible that this destitute population had wended its way into refugee camps where at least they could get food and shelter.
The Ambassador pointed out that while Pakistan was keen to get its own nationals back, the Indians were creating obstacles to their return with the aim of using the displaced persons as pawns in the Indian political game.
Mr. Hussain said Pakistan's intentions were borne out by the fact that she had accepted the United Nations proposal for stationing of observers in East Pakistan while Indian's refusal was am eloquent commentary on her intentions and attitude.
Referring to the situation in East Pakistan, the Ambassador said that generally the province was quiet let alone in the border areas there was some trouble due to the Indian instigation complicity and involvement
The Ambassador said it was the consent of the whole world that the problem of refugees which was causing tensions between India and Pakistan should be resolved in a peaceful way.
Pakistan, he said had already taken all possible constructive steps and he appealed to the Japanese press to held in creating international public opinion so that this problem of international concern could be removed and peace in the region ensured.
Replying to a question about the possibility of hostilities breaking out between India and Pakistan, Syed Motahar Hussain replied that Pakistan was exercising greatest restraint in the face of provocation to avoid this. But if there was aggression against Pakistan territory however, he said, he feared Pakistan would have no other way but to accept the challenge.
The Government of East Pakistan has constituted a six member committee on economy of accommodation with the member planning and development Board East Pakistan as Chairman, according to Gazette notification here, reports APP.
The members of the committee are: Chief Engineer (Buildings) works power and irrigation Department, East Pakistan; the Director of Urban Development, Planning Department, East Pakistan; the secretary, central land allocation committee, East Pakistan; the Deputy chief (Physical Planning and Housing), East Pakistan planning Department and the joint Director of projects, Physical planning and housing planning Department, East Pakistan member secretary.
The committee on economy of accommodation will review the report of the standardisation
committee set up under works Department in February 1965 for the residential and
office accommodations under the Government of East Pakistan and autonomous, semi-
Other terms of reference of the committee are:
(II) suggest standard as to land and floor space to be adopted for residential and
office accommodation of various Government departments directorates, autonomous and
semi-
(III) Suggest the quantum of land to be attached to independent bungalows to be constructed at Dacca and at other places.
(IV) Recommend the standard and specification of rest houses, dak-
(V) suggest the type of finishing fittings and fixtures other amenities and furnishings to be provided to different units according to a standard pattern.
The committee will submit its report to Government in the planning Department as soon as possible.
Karachi, Sept 4(APP): Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Chairman of Pakistan People's Party has donated Rs. 4000 towards the president's Relief fund for the victims of the recent flood in East Pakistan.
Another sum of Rs. 1,000 has been donated by the PPP chief for the relief of those who suffered in the floods in the Punjab. Mr. Bhutto has sent two cheques of the said amount to the president.
In a statement he said that this was a token of sympathy and a modest contribution towards the relief measures.
He said we have been very much distressed to learn of the devastating floods in East Pakistan and also by the damage caused by floods in the Punjabi.
Mr. Bhutto has directed his party workers to make every effort to assist the authorities in eradicating the miseries of the affected persons.
Mr. Bhutto assured president Yahya Khan that he would be prepared to render all possible
co-
Profile of Bengal