Dawn
27th February 1969
Talks held in cordial atmosphere, leaders say
Mujib hopes DAC will reach agreement
Dacca, Feb 26: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Awami League leader said here today the people in West Pakistan understood the Problems of Pakistan and they had … and sympathy for the here.
Awami League leader, who here this evening from Rawalpindi after attending the opening session of the Government- Opposition Round Table Conference, told newsmen the first session of the conference was held in a cordial atmosphere.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said that he was overwhelmed by the love and affection of the people in West Pakistan during his brief visit to that wing.
Sheikh Mujib said that in Lahore and Rawalpindi he was warmly received by large crowds and amidst laughter he remarked: “so-called traitor, now is a patriot”.
The Awami League leader said that the people in West Pakistan appreciated the lead provided by the Central All Parties Students Action Committee in East Pakistan.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on arrival was received at the airport among others by his wife and children and a host of party leaders and workers.
WELCOME
A sizable crowd, mainly of students, welcomed him with shouting slogans and garlands. Mr. Justice S. M. Murshed, who arrived by the same plane, said that the beginning of the Round Table Conference was amidst cordial atmosphere.
He hoped that the conference would be able to solve the national problems.
Mr. Mujib was accompanied by Syed Nazrul Islam, Mr. Hamidul Haq Chaudhry, and Prof Ghulam Azam returned here today from Rawalpindi after attending the inaugural session of the Round Table Conference.
Mr. Tajuddin Ahmad, Secretary East Pakistan Awami League, Mr. Mizanur Rahman Chaudhry, Organising Secretary of the Provincial Awami League and Mr. Abdul Malek, Ukil, MPA, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad and Mr. Yusuf Ali Chaudhry (Mohanmia) a NDF leader, also arrived by the same plane.
COMMON FORMULA
Our Staff correspondent in Lahore adds:
Answering a question at the Lahore airport Mr. Mujib said the democratic Action Committee would continue its deliberations to arrive at a common formula over the national issues to be considered by the conference and would be meeting at Lahore on March 6. “On March 10 we would be going back to Rawalpindi for the conference”, he added.
Asked if he was hopeful about the participation of Mr. Bhutto and Maulana Bhashani in the conference when it is resumed, he said they were most welcome. He believed that the DAC and everybody wanted them to join at the table. Moreover, they should note that it was an open conference without any rigid agenda and hence they could raise any question they liked. He failed to understand as to why they “do not come” to put forward their viewpoint. “Why are they afraid”, he asked.
Asked if he would persuade them to attend the conference, he said the question of persuasion did not rise. He had already requested all of them to some and join at the table. But if he got an opportunity he would like to talk to them about the matter.
MAUDOODI
Answering a question, the Amir Jamaat-i-Islami, Maulana Abul A’ala Maudoodi said the deliberation of the conference had not reached any definite stage. In fact, the conference had only been started so that the nation may rest assured that there was no deadlock over its being held.
Asked if the DAC proposed to make further efforts to bring Maulana Bhashani to the table, he said it was a matter which concerned Mr. Mujib and Maulana Bhashani alone. The DAC had done its duty by suggesting to the Government to invite all the leaders. The Government had agreed to the suggestion and Air Marshal Asghar Khan and Mr. Mahboob Murshed had also responded to the invitation. The remaining leaders if they so wanted, could come on March 10. So far as the DAC was concerned, it would be only too happy if all the invitees attended the parleys so that a formula could be evolved through an agreement between the all concerned.
NO PRECONDITION
Asked if they could make further efforts to bring Maulana Bhashani and Mr. Bhutto now that they had over ten days at their disposal, Maulana Maudoodi said the DAC would make every possible effort to persuade them to participate but “if we decide to move on precondition that a decision could be taken only if all agree to participate, then I am afraid there may be no decision at all”.
The most the DAC could do was to try that all could be present at the table, but if somebody decided to abstain from participation the nation could certainly not wait indefinitely.
Asked if he was hopeful about the outcome of the talks, he said if he had not been hopeful he would have not decided to participate.
Answering a question, he said President Ayub had given a solemn commitment to the entire world that he would not contest in the next election, and therefore he was sure that the president would not back out of his pledge.
PPI adds:
Asked what he had to say about Mr. Bhutto’s claim that his followers had never said anything about the Jamaat-i-Islami, Maulana Maudoodi told newsmen that he did not like to expatiate on what the PPP had been saying against his party. It would be futile to recount all that and would only embitter the feelings, he added.
NASRULLAH
Asked about the inaugural session of the Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, who returned from Rawalpindi to Lahore late this evening, said that it was a “right beginning in the right direction”.
He said the Government’s decision to release all political detenus in West Pakistan following his request at the RTC inauguration, should further clear the atmosphere for Government- Opposition dialogue.
He said he would be staying on in Lahore to be available to political colleagues. Later, the Central DAC would go into session here from March 6 to 9 in order to finalise its constitutional and political recommendations for the RTC. These deliberations were necessary so that no time was wasted at the RTC over avoidable discussions, he pointed out.
The DAC members, he said, would leave for the interim capital on February 9 at the conclusion of these deliberations for participation in the RTC.
MURSHED
Mr. Murshed said in Lahore before his departure for Dacca that he would try to meet Maulana Bhashani during his stay in East Wing. He asked the people to pray sincerely for the success of the talks because the interest of the entire nation was involved. In fact all the people and not just the leaders were participating in the talks because they gain strength from the people at large, he added..
FARID
The Nizam-i-Islam party Secretary-General, Maulvi Farid Ahmad, said the beginning of the Round Table Conference had been “really wonderful.”
Giving his impressions of the RTC on arrival at the Lahore airport he said that the ice which had separated the President from the people had at long last been broken. The state of anxiety and fear might now give way to hope and aspirations, thereby serving to open up new vistas on the horizon, he added.
The NIP leader said the initiative generated by the joint efforts of the President and the Opposition leaders would certainly dispel many misgivings.
HUMBLE
Maulvi Farid Ahmad said President Ayub was very humble in his approach to national issues and made no mental reservation. This attitude might well pave the way for a better appreciation of the views of the people.
He said the fact that the session began and ended with prayers the Almighty made him confident that Allah, in His infinite freedom, would “lead us to the path of virtue.”
Maulvi Farid Ahmad is stay on in Lahore for Id.
সুত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু: পঞ্চম খণ্ড ॥ ষাটের দশক ॥ চতুর্থ পর্ব ॥ ১৯৬৯