The Daily
Morning News
18 SEPTEMBER 1971
News headlines and details from the Daily Morning News.
News Headlines:
- Ten member council of Ministers named: Two from defunct AL: Nine sworn in: portfolios likely today.
- ADBP accelerates loaning programme
- Armed attack repulsed; 78 intruders killed
- Ceylon govt. against interfering in Pak internal affairs
- Philosophy of Pakistan: Gen. Niazi emphasises need to educate misguided youth
- Overall situation in East Pakistan showing improvements: Nurul Amin
- Pakistan ready to face Indian threat
Other Headlines:
- Pak Islamic Council expresses concern over Indian interference
- Sardar Qayyum to visit Saudi Arabia next week.
- Dacca Sylhet coach service to resume tomorrow
- 75,000 E.Pak DPs in W. Bengal camp face starvation
Ten-
The East Pakistan Governor, Dr. A.M. Malik, yesterday announced his ten-
Governor Malik Administered the oath of office.
Mr. Abul Quasem, General secretary of the Deputy Council Muslim League and a former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, is the senior most Minister in the cabinet. The other Ministers are: Messrs. Abbas Ali Khan, Akhteruddin Ahmed, A.S.M. Solaiman, Obaidullah Majumdar, Prof. Shamsul Huq, Maulana Mohammad Ishaque, Nawazish Ahmed and Maulana A.K.M. Yousuf.
Mr. Mung Shew Prue Choudhury, a minority community member from Chittagong Hill tracts, could not reach Dacca to take oath. He will be sworn in later.
Portfolios of the Ministers have not been allocated and it was hoped that this may be decided today when the Governor meets his Ministers this Morning.
the Governor is likely to add some more Ministers to his cabinet in a day or two.
After the swearing in Ceremony, The Governor told newsmen "This is a common man's Cabinet."
APP adds: The Provincial cabinet includes members from different political parties
including one MNA-
Mr. Akhteruddin Ahmed, ex-
Mr. Mohammad Obaidullah Majumdar and Prof. Shamsul Huq are MNA elect and MPA elect respectively of the banned Awami League. Mr. A.S,M. Solaiman is the head of Pakistan Krishak Sramik Party.
The ceremony was attended by the Martial Law Administrator Zone "B", Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi, chief Justice of Dacca High court, Mr. Justice B.A.Siddiki, leaders of political parties and high civil and military officials.
The Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan has accelerated its loaning programme in East Pakistan recently.
This was disclosed in a simple but impressive function held on Friday in the premises of EPALDCO for delivery of Japanese Yanmar power tillers to the farmers.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rana Shabbir Ahmed Khan, chief loan and Administrative officer of ADBP and the chief guest outlined the fresh measures taken by the bank to assist the farmers of the province.
He appealed to them to make use of the farm machinerlys being given on loan by the Bank on easy terms and thereby boost up the good production.
The function was attended by a large number of progressive farmers who ceremonially looked delivery of Yanmar power tillers from the chief guest. The chief Regional Manager and Public Relation Officer of ADBP attended the function besides the high officials of M/S EPALDCO.
The Pakistan troops killed 78 persons while repulsing an armed attack from across the border in Latu area of Sylhet district Tuesday last, according to a message received in Dacca yesterday, reports APP.
A substantial quantity of arms and ammunitions including 58 rifles, 8 light machine guns, 12 sten guns, 69 mines, 150 grenades and over 3,000 cartridges were captured.
In this encounter two soldiers of Pakistan Army were slightly wounded.
The Message further says that in Tuesday morning nearly 350 armed personnel intruded into Pakistan territory under the cover of artillery fire from across the border when they reached a bordering village near Latu. The vigilant Pakistani troops opened fire on them, unable to stand the fire, they retreated leaving behind 78 dead. Three of them were captured alive. The remaining managed to escape across the border.
The message also says that the attacking force included soldiers from Indian Border Security Force and defectors from East Bengal Regiment.
Colombo, Sept. 17(Reuter): Ceylon's Ministry of Defence and External Affairs yesterday described as malicious and venomous editorial comments in an Indian paper on the recent visit of Indian Foreign Minister to Ceylon.
The Ministry said the editorial in the Independent Hindustan standard on Tuesday, appeared to have been directed both "to abuse the Ceylon Government and to undo any good which was achieved by the recent visit" of foreign Minister Swaran Singh."
A ministry statement said its attention had been drawn to a news agency report of
the Hindustan standard editorial, which described Mr. Singh's visit as having helped
lay bare that Ceylon's policy of non-
The Statement said that Ceylon's stand on East Pakistan did not call for an explanation or justification, least of all to the Hindustan Standard since Ceylon's position was based on accepted principles and norms of international life.
"It is Ceylon's view that East Pakistan is an internal matter of that country," the Ministry added.
The Ministry said it was Ceylon's understanding that the Indian Government considered it an internal matter between East and West Pakistan.
In its editorial the Hindustan Standard had also commented that the limitations laid down by Ceylon with regard to transit by Pakistan aircraft through Ceylon's 'would not fob of even a child of five." The Ministry said the use of facilities in Ceylon by Pakistan aircraft for transit purpose had started from the time of an Indian Government ban on overflights over India which was long before the out break of disturbances in East Pakistan.
Ceylon's action flowed logical from its friendly relations with Pakistan and such flights were allowed on the basis of a declaration by the Pakistan Government that in each case they did not carry military personnel or equipment, the Ministry added.
Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi, Commander, Eastern Command and Marial Law Administrator, Zone
'B' yesterday (Friday) emphasised the need to educate the new generations as to how
and why Muslims of this sub-
He made this observation in the context of disruptive activities by the misguided youth who, he said, were trying to destroy the homeland so painstakingly created by their fathers. He compared the sabotage activities with cutting one's throat with one's own knife "It is all the more shameful when one does it at the instance of a hostile neighbour like India," he remarked.
General Niazi was addressing a huge public meeting at Netrokona during his day-
The gathering consisted of several thousand people carrying national flags and they repeatedly raised patriotic slogans. Some people who could not find place at the vast ground had perched on the walls and roof tops of neighbouring buildings.
The Martial Law Administrator told the people that he was deeply impressed by the
"Islamic spirit" displaced by them. He added that this spirit was the binding force
for the Muslim of this country. He also exposed the Indian designs to weaken us though
internal strife so that she may easily grab this territory and throw the people into
slavery. He reminded them of the miserable plight of the Muslims in pre-
Sabotage
Referring to the sabotage activities on the part of the misguided youth, he said "How ironic it looks that sons are trying to destroy what their fathers had built after so many sacrifices. It is imperative to bring home the misguided youths the philosophy and spirit of the Pakistan movement, he emphasised.
General Niazi told the enthusiastic crowd that army personnel were there for the
service and protection of the people who should regain their confidence and self-
Earlier, the convenor of the Peace Committee and the Imam Sahib of the local Mosque addressed the gathering paying tributes to the armed forces for preserving integrity of Pakistan. They also reiterated their pledge to work in cooperation with the authorities for the solidarity of Pakistan.
After the meeting, Gen. Niazi drove to one local Martial Law Headquarters where he was shown a substantial quantity of arms, ammunitions and explosives recovered from Indian agents in the area. The material bore Indian marking.
Meets Troops
General Niazi also met the troops and EPCAF personnel and talked to them informally commending their devotion to duty, he said, "It is a great honour to be entrusted with the task of preserving national integrity."
Later, Gen. Niazi who was accompanied by the GOC during the tour flew to Itna on the Western side of Surma river where he met member of peace committee and workers of defunct Awami League who had recently returned to their homes after hearing the grant of general amnesty.
These workers repented for their past mistakes and pledged to live like patriotic citizens and work for the national solidarity.
Finally, The Martial Law Administrator visited Tarail in the Kishoregonj sub-
Karachi, Sept. 17(APP): Mr. Nurul Amin, president Pakistan Democratic Party (PDP) said here today that the appointment of Dr. A.M. Malik as Governor of East Pakistan, and the formation of a council of minister "has raised some hopes" for a further and quicker improvement the situation in the Eastern wing.
He was talking to newsmen at Karachi Airport on arrival here from Dacca. The PDP chief has come here at the invitation of president Yahya Khan and will meet the latter at the president House tomorrow morning.
Mr. Amin said the PDP Working Committee had empowered him to whether or not any of his partymen should join Dr. Malik's council of Ministers.
He said he had not yet arrived at any decision on this point, adding that it would "depend on various circumstances."
He said if Dr. Malik and his Council of Ministers took the right decisions and actions, the East wing situation would improve.
When told that most of the members of Dr. Malik's council of Ministers consisted of defeated elements, who had lost the last general elections, he said, "these are the people, who are trying to bring back normalcy."
It was the defunct Awami League which was responsible for the present situation, he added.
Meeting with president
Asked as to what topics would come for discussion during his meeting with president Yahya, he said since he had been invited by the latter, he (president) would know the questions to be discussed.
He said though he did not know the agenda of the meeting he would in all probably discuss the present problems of East Pakistan with president Yahya.
Asked to specify these problems he said they included permanent flood control measures, food scarcity, economic difficulties, disruption of rent from agriculturists till the next crop was available.
Mr. Amin said constitutional matters might also come up for discussion, though he had not been consulted on this point.
He said his party had not formulated any separate constitution principles, but there were contained in its eight point election manifesto.
Replying to a query he said the constitution to be provided by president Yahya Khan must be approved by the National Assembly.
Asked whether the National Assembly should have the right to amend the constitution, he said if the National Assembly had the right to approve the constitution, the right to amend is also there.
Mr. Amin expressed doubts whether it would be possible to hold bye—elections for all the vacant national and provincial assembly seats in East Pakistan on one day because of some disruptions in the communications system.
Besides this question may not arise since it was unlikely that all the seats would
be declared vacant on one and the same day and so one bye-
General Amnesty
Regarding the recently announced general amnesty, Mr Amin said it was one way of solving the problem and this process has to be tried.
He said as one of the political consequences of this move, some political leaders, who had gone to India might return.
He said it seemed that this move had been effective in persuading a large number of armed people to surrender to the authorities.
Regarding the overall situation in East Pakistan, he said it was showing improvements.
He declined to comment on matters affecting West Pakistan on ground of insufficient information.
He said he may go to Lahore for a short visit on Monday September 20.
Mr. Amin is scheduled to call on president Yahya Khan tomorrow morning at 10 am.
On arrival at the Karachi Airport, he was welcomed by a large number of partymen, admirers and friends.
Mr. Amin was accompanied by Mr. Mahmud Ali, vice president PDP and chief of the East
Pakistan PDP, who is scheduled to leave for the United Nations on Sunday as the head
of a 16-
Sukkur, Sept. 17.(PPI): Lt. Gen. Rakhman Gul, the Governor of Sind said here today that Pakistan was aware of the steady build up of Indian troops on Pakistan borders and was ready to face any threat and aggression from India.
He told newsmen at the Arian Airport on his arrival here this afternoon from Karachi on a three day visit that if India tries to attack any inch of Pakistan she would face crushing defeat. He pointed out that Indian troops had gathered on all borders of Pakistan.
Replying to a question, the Governor said that he was not aware of appointment of civilian governors in West Pakistan.
He said that it was up to the president to take a decision about it.
When asked about the release of political prisoners in West Pakistan the Governor replied that there were only three political prisoners in Sind province and their cases will be decided according to merits. The situation in West wing was quite different from that in East Pakistan, he added.
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