Another Pak H.C. official defects
From Our Spl. Representative, NEW DELHI, Sept. 3.- Another Bengali member of the staff of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi came out of the Commission premises today and declared his allegiance to Bangladesh.
“Life for the Bengali staff in the High Commission is intolerable” he said. “They are virtual prisoners.”
Mr. Amjad Ali, a non-diplomatic official of the Pakistan High Commission premises this afternoon along with his wife, Mrs. Rehna and three month old daughter and declared his allegiance to the Bangladeshi Government.
DRAMATIC ESCAPE UNI adds: After much effort, Mr. Amjad Ali secured permission from the High Commission authorities to go out with his wife and their three-month-old daughter, accompanied by a Pakistani Intelligence personnel, to get the baby photographed in a local studio.
As soon as he was out with his family, Mr. Amjad Ali hailed a passing taxi and fled before the Pakistani Intelligence man could check.
Mr. Amjad Ali is the fifth member of the High Commission here to declare his allegiance to Bangladesh.
Our Special Representative further adds: Mr. Amjad Ali in a statement said that he could not any longer serve an alien and barbarous Government which is guilty of genocide, rape, arson and loot on an unprecedented scale in Bangladesh. Like many others he also feels that the time has come for all Bengalees to place their services at the disposal of the sovereign Government of Bangladesh.
Referring to conditions inside the High Commission compound here, he said that life was intolerable for the Bengali staff. “They are virtual prisoners and are being exposed to various indignities”, he added.
Mr. Amjad Ali confirmed that another Bengali member of the staff, Mr. Ghulam Mustafa was mercilessly beaten by West Pakistan Intelligence officers on August 29 within the chancery till he became unconscious.
Mr. Amjad Ali expressed surprise at the denial of the incident by the High Commission. Actually the man, Mr. Amjad Ali added, had received injuries on the chest when he was removed from the and he was profusely bleeding chancery to his residential quarters. The High Commission’s lies are on par with the lies which Islamabad is spreading about Bangladesh and its leaders”. he said.
Mr. K. M. Shehbuddin, chief of the Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi in a statement has welcomed Mr. Amjad Ali to the fold. He said that no self-respecting Bengalee can continue to serve the butchers of Islamabad. Any further association with Islamabad by any Bangalee will mean aiding and abetting Islamabad’s barbarism in Bangladesh.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 04.09.1971