July24

24 JULY 1971

News headlines and details from the Daily Morning News.

News Headlines:

Other Headlines:

300 held in Meghalya and Assam.
Nefarions activities of Indian rulers condemned.
People urged to remain vigilant.

Repatriation of DPs. : India's rejection of UN offer exposes her game

Islamabad (APP)

India's flat rejection of the United Nations proposal for stationing of UN civilian personnel in both India and Pakistan to facilitate the repatriation of displaced persons to East Pakistan has completely exposed her credibility and ingenuineness to solve this problem.

Observers here were hardly surprised by the Indian reaction as they have all along felt that India had something to hide from the world community.

A UN supervision, according to them would only unveil the actual game India was playing with the twin objective of extorting foreign countries and bringing bad name to Pakistan.

It suits India to go on exploiting the so-called refugee problem for balancing her current year's defence oriented budget.

With this aim in view, she called for dollars 200 million for" Looking after" the displaced persons from Pakistan. Taken in by the Indian propaganda various countries rushed aid to India which to date totals dollars 214 million.

Taking advantage of the response, India has now raised her demand to dollars 400 million and appears she would not help resolve this problem till her objective was achieved.

These observers said that instead of treating it as a humanitarian problem, India was exploiting it for its own political ends.

Apart from this, the presence of impartial United Nations personnel would have brought to light the war preparations India was making and the extent of her forces deployment.

It would have also exposed the Indian lies about the number of displaced persons and the method adopted by India to prevent their return to Pakistan.

Foreign diplomatic sources appreciated Pakistan's reported acceptance of the UN proposal which could speed up the return of the displaced persons.

They said New Delhi has not given ample proof that it was not interested in lessening the tension in the sub-continent.

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Govt. has lined up 30 to 32 coasters, says M.M. Ahmed

Karachi (APP)

The Government has lined up 30 to 32 coasters to speed up movement of foodgrains in the consuming centres of East Pakistan the Economic Adviser to the President, Mr. M.M. Ahmed said here tonight.

Talking to newsmen on arrival here from Rawalpindi he said that the Government had launched what he called a multiple attack' to solve the problem of the quick movement of foodgrains.

Mr. Ahmed said that the Govrnment had already provided two million dollars for the acquisition of coasters from abroad and construction of river-craft within the country.

He said that one million dollars would be utilised for the purchase of five to six coasters while another one million dollars would be used for the construction of river-craft in the Khulna and Karachi Shipyards.

Giving the break up of the acquisition of coasters, Mr. Ahmad said that three coasters had already been acquired from the People's Republic of China against credit. Seventeen coasters were being hired from the United States for six months operation in East Pakistan. Another five to six coasters would be purchased out of the one million dollars provided by the Government for the purpose.

He said there were prospects for acquiring another five to six coasters from the Netherlands against credit. He hoped that negotiations for purchase would start soon.

Mr. Ahmed expressed the hope that the Khulna and Karachi shipyards would be able to construct river-craft before the United States withdraws its coasters which were being hired by the Government.

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Navy chief finds Chalna port busy

Vice-Admiral Muzaaffar Hasan, commander-in-chief, Pakistan Navy, flew to Mongla from Chittagong yesterday morning to see the progress on the Chalna port project, reports APP.

The Commander-in-chief discussed in detail the plans of the port with the port director, who informed him that the preliminary of the construction of Chalna port at the finally selected site did not receive much setback inspite of the recent disturbances in the area.

Brisk activity has returned to the port and the export and import graph has shown a marked upward trend during the last one and a half month. The export of raw Jute and Jute goods is in full swing.

Yesterday, when the commander-in-chief flew over the area to have a view of the site, 18 ships were seen engaged in loading and unloading cargo in the Chalna port. The presence of so many ships at one time, the port director told the commander-in Chief, was a clear manifestation of the port's normal functioning.

In April last, after the disturbances, the Pakistan Navy took measures to rehabilitate the port which had been completely paralysed due to the activities of anti-State elements.

Radio communications were restored and about 400 craft were recovered, and 50 privately owned ships abandoned by the staff were also reactivated and put to use.

This did not include the 100 foodgrains barges hijacked by the miscreants which were salvaged and used for transportation purposes.

The naval presence in the region also contributed to the restoration of confidence of the workers and their subsequent return to work.

Yesterday morning the Commander-in Chief also visited the Mongla area where measures are being taken for the rehabilitation of the port workers.

After arrival at Mongla, Vice Admiral Muzaffar Hasan also met members of the peace committee who informed him that the people of the region were extending full co-operation to the Government in the maintenance of peace and the reactivation of economic life.

The Commander-in-Chief deeply appreciated their sentiments and urged upon them not to relent their efforts in this behalf. "You are a fighter, armed with the faith in the destiny of the Nation, and I am confident that you will achieve your sacred mission of making Pakistan more strong and prosperous," he said.

Earlier, the Pakistan Navy chief arrived in Jessore by an army helicopter where he was apprised of the situation in the area by the local Army Commander.

Vice Admiral Muzaffar Hasan also visited a Pakistan Navy establishment PNS Titumir at Khulna.

Vice Admiral Muzaffar Hasan who was accompanied by Rear Admiral M. Shariff, Flag Officer Commanding, East Pakistan, returned to Dacca in the after noon on the conclusion of his visit to Chittagong, Mongla, Chalna and Jessore.

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Tunku leaves for Bangkok today

Due to bad weather again yesterday the visit to Bhola and other cyclone affected areas of Tunku Abdul Rahman had to be cancelled, reports APP.

The Secretary General of the Islamic Secretariat instead undertook a river cruise for a couple of hours.

Accopanied by Mr. Kamel-Al-Shariff, Ambassador of Jordan in Pakistan, Dr. Ali Ahmad Popal, the Afgan Ambassador, Dr. Suleiman Abu Charge d'Affairs of Kuwait and Mr. Reza Taghavi representaitve of the Iranian Foreign Ministery and other members of the delegation, the Tunku boarded the IWTA steamer at Sadarghat at 9-45 a.m. After passing by Narayanganj, the party cruised up to Mirkadim and then returned to Dacca. All along the cruise the Tunku took pictures extensively of the absorbing scenery. The Tunku and party offered their Jumma prayers at the Baitul Mukarram Mosque.

As the Secretary General and delegates from other Muslim countries appeared on the steps of Baitul Mukaram thousands of people, who had come to offer prayer, burt into spontaneous welcome, They raised thunderous of "Allah-ho-Akbar," "Islam Zindabad" and Pakistan Zindabad."

The Tunku visited the EPSIC yesterday

On arrival he was received by Mr. A.B.M. Ghulam Mostafa, Chairman EPSIC. He was shown round sales and display centre of the corporation.

He evinced keen interest in the products and the magnificent designs of the designers of EPSIC. He exhorted the EPSIC to find export market for the small and cottage industries products to the Muslim countries.

Tunku Abdul Rahman, was the guest of honour at a dinner given by the citizens of Dacca at the Hotel Inter-continental last night.

The dinner was attended by Mr. A.M. Malik special Assistant to the president, Major General Rao Farman Ali and elite of the city.

PPI adds: Tunku Abdul Rahman is leaving Dacca this morning for Bangkok on conclusion of a three-day visit to East Pakistan.

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Gen Niazi lauds high morale of people in border areas

Lieut. General A.A.K. Niazi, Commander, Eastern command yesterday found the people in the border areas of the Western region in high spirits in the face of frequent Indian shelling from across the border.

He appreciated their morale and commended their whole hearted co-operation with the troops in meeting the threat to the security of Pakistan.

General Niazi, who was accompanied by the GOC, yesterday visited Meherpur, Jhenidah and Jessore areas.

He found that most of the people of Meherpur, a border town had returned to their homes and taken up their normal avocations. He saw farmers harvesting and thrashing the paddy crop and shop keepers tending their business.

At Mehrpur, Gen. Niazi also addressed members of peace committee and elite of the town. He told them that history was repleted with inspiring examples of dedicated small nations trumphing over their adversory many times of their size.

"As long as we remain untied and dedicated to own cause, no power can defeat us," he said and added that Muslims had glorious traditions and we should all endeavour to prove worthy of our glorious past.

General Niazi also appreciated people's wholehearted co-operation with the authorities in weeding out miscreants and anti-social elements from the area. Gen. Niazi told them that troops were there to protect life, property and honour of their fellow brothren. The address was punctuated with full throated patriotic slogans.

After the meeting, a large enthusiastic crowd swarmed General Niazi and eagerly shook hands with him.

Earlier, Jhenidah, General Niazi met members of peace committee and commended their contribution towards rehabilitation of people's confidence.

During yesterday's tour, General Niazi also visited army headquarters and troops in the forward areas. He met the troops talked to them informally and enquired about their welfare. He found them happy, cheerful and confident.

Talking to them informally at a border post General Niazi said there is no greater honour than to defend one's homeland, he added that service of the nation was the primary duty of a soldier and he performs this duty wherever the call of duty comes from.

General Niazi returned to Dacca in the evening.

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Rajshahi fast returning to normal life

Rajshahi, (APP)

With the gradual return of people both from India and the interior to Rajshahi town, life in the divisional border town is fast returning to normal.

The narrow meandering roads and streets are once again crowded with pedalled rickshaws, cyclists and pedastarians moving about in pursuit of their normal avocations. Bazars are humming with activities as most of the shops have opened.

A group of editors of newspapers and agency from Dacca on way to Rajshahi from Ishurdi during their 68- mile drive saw farmers working in their fields.

The editors saw for themselves yesterday Pakistani nationals numbering seventeen, all members of the minority community, returning to Pakistan by boat at Godagari ghat, 18 miles from Rajshahi town. These returnees on arrival were innoculated and vaccinated, given food and passege money to leave for their respective homes.

The returning Pakistani nationals narrated their woeful tales of miseries which they had to undergo at the hands of Indians in the so-called refugee camps there. They also narrated how the Indians were standing in the way of Pakistani nationals who were eager to return to their homes.

The Dacca editors went round the town and met the heads of the department of the Rajshahi University. They also met across section of people and heard the peace committee members co-operations with the authorities in the restoration of peace and normalcy in the district.

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Sylhet almost normal

The normal activity in the district has almost reached a pre-distorbance level.

All offices of the provincial and central Government including the educational institutions have been functioning with almost full attendance.

Foodgrains are being distributed in the town and Mofussol areas as usual.

Price of rice has registered a downward trend. Medium quality rice is selling at Rs. 32/- to 33/- per maund and good quality rice at 38/- to 40/- per maund. There is adequate supply of vegetables, fowl, egg, pineapple, banana and other fruits in village markets.

During June, 610 cattle and 810 poultry birds were treated and 27264 cattle and 21658 poultry birds were treated and 21658 poultry birds vaccinated. One hundred thirty-two bulls were castrated.

Revenue collection has also been progressing satisfactorily.

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Indian thinking

Pakistan has done and is prepared to do everything it can to facilitate the return of displaced persons to their homes in East Pakistan. Any measure that would promote this end is welcome. Pakistan has, a report from Geneva says, accepted a UN proposal to station UN civilian personnel in both India and Pakistan to facilitate the return of displaced persons. On the other hand has rejected the proposal. Those who are not familiar with works might find the rejection perplexing. Why has India after desperately trying to internationalise the so-called refugee issue balked at international supervision instead of jumping at the proposal? The answer is simple; India Just cannot see straight.

The Indian Government tried to bamboozie the world about the so-called refugee problem. It appealed to foreign countries for aid at the same time warned them of dire consequences, if they did not share the responsibility of looking after these refugees" The combination of appeal and backmail paid India well in the beginning, but India should not have expected to befool others all the time. Others have started seeing through the Indian game. India far from wanting to solve the 'refugee' problem is using these unfortunate persons as pawns in its game. Foreign friends of India who might still have some illusions about Indian intention should realise what India is. The Indian Government which has much to hide is chary of any supervision. It has been clearing the border areas of foreign observers, whose presence could be a source of embarrassment. In rejecting the UN proposal India reportedly contends that the presence of few observers on the border would only succeed in giving a false facade of security. What she really fears is that the presence of UN observers would inhibit its nefarious activities.

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E. wing situation: Role played by some foreign news media condemned

Brahmanbaria (Comilla), (APP)

A public meeting held here on Monday condemned the role played by some foreign news media regarding the East Pakistan situation and called upon the Government to cut all sorts of relations with those countries which maintained unfriendly and hostile attitudes towards Pakistan.

Sponsored by the Brahmanbaria sub-divisional peace committee the meeting in a resolution urged the Government and Tunku Abdul Rahman, Secretary-General of the Islamic-Secretariat, for forming a Muslim Commonwealth.

The meeting was addressed by Mr. Shafiqul Islam and Professor Ghulam Azam, members of the central peace committee, Mr. A.R. Mollah, Mr. Obaidullah, Mr. Zillur Rahman and others.

Mr. Zillur Rahman and Mr. A.T.M. Obaidullah called upon the people to rise up against the Indian conspiracy and safeguard Pakistan and Islam with full courage.

Mr. A.Q.M. Shafiqul Islam described the heinous conspiracy of India of separating Pakistan through creating disunity among the Muslims of Pakistan.

He described the emergence of the peace committee as a very timely incident for the welfare of the people and urged them to extend full co-operation to the committee.

Professor Ghulam Azam, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islam, East Pakistan, described the last 750 years of the history of Muslims in the East Pakistan and Indian sub-continent. He said that the Muslim saints had attracted people towards Islam only through their characters. It is the Brahmin Hindus who had oppressed the people in general and people got converted to Islam for peace. Afterwards we lost independence in the hands of the British and even being a Muslim majority province in India, were exploited by both the Hindus and the English rulers.

Professor Azam pointed at the British rule and described it as the age in which Muslims Lagged behind the Hindus in every sphere of life.

Janab Azam described the emotional leadership of a particular gentleman of East Pakistan as the root cause of the present national crisis and catastrophe in the economic and social field. He called upon the people of Brahmanbaria to rise up against the miscreants.

He advised them to cooperate with the peace committee in bringing back full normalcy.

The meeting unanimously adopted the following resolutions and ended through "Munjat" by professor Ghulam Azam:

1.The meeting unanimously condemned the Indian interference in internal affairs of Pakistan. It condemned the war motives of India manifested through the creation of tension in the borders and declared that the people of Brahmanbraia are fully prepared to meet any challenge from India.

2. The meeting condemned the role of some foreign news media specially the Western press including the BBC. The people of Brahmanbraia called upon the Government to cut all sorts of relations with the Commonwealth countries for their unfriendly and hostile attitudes regarding the East Pakistan situation. It urged the Government and Tunku Abdul Rahman who is now visiting Pakistan to embark on the urgent task of forming a Muslim Commonwealth with the Muslim countries of the world.

3. The public meeting, Brahmanbaria peace committee advised the students community to bring back to normalcy the educational atmosphere of the province and expressed satisfaction at the smooth functioning of the Dacca Board SSC Examination. It also termed the present materialistic education system as the root of the present national crisis and urged the Government to establish universal education system based on the Islamic ideology.

4. The people of this town which is one of the worst sufferers of Indian aggression called upon the Pakistanis, who went to India due to the Chaos created by the Indian propaganda to come back to their homes.

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Mirzapur and Tangail normal says Yousuf

Mr. A.N.M. Yousuf, General Secretary, East Pakistan provincial Muslim League visited Mirzapur and some parts of Tangail district and expressed his satisfaction over the restoration of normalcy in every walk of public life reports APP.

He founds SSC examinees are attending their examinations centres in Joyous mood. He congratulated, the officials, non-officials, guardians, the chairman, secretary, controller and the other members of the staff of the Dacca Board for their efforts for holding the examination in a peaceful atmosphere.

Mr. Yousuf also urged upon the people specially guardians of the examinees belonging to the other 3 boards of East Pakistan to look after the well being of their students and send them in the examination centres and stand United to weed out the miscreants from the society and make it a healthy nation in maintaining the solidarity and integrity of Pakistan as the guardians are always liable for the expenditures incurred by their words. It is true that none will come forward in helping the guardans shouldering financial responsibilities and future prosperities of their words. It is clear that some interested persons are discouraging the students for the examination to make them unworkable elements of the society which should be averted very carefully and courageously.

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400 DPs die of Cholera

New Delhi (APP)

About 400 East Pakistani refugees died of Cholera in the Dinajpur district of West Bengal during the past three weeks, according to doctors working there.

There were also deaths from gastro-enteritis in refugee camp in nearby Kishanganj.

Meanwhile, Press Trust of India reported that evacuees had demanded better accommodation and sanitation in the camps, they said that tents and thatched sheds provided for them were leaking in the monsoon rains.

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