New Pak order to regulate political activities
RAWALPINDI, OCT. 10- President Yahya Khan issued a Martial Law order last night regulating political activities in Pakistan, reports AP.
Military officials said the move amounted to “de facto” removal of the March 26 ban on politics issued after the arrest of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, leader of East Bengal’s Awami League.
The order forbade a large number of activities, from obstructing or opposing by elections, such as are scheduled in December in East Bengal, to carrying weapons at political rallies, but did not specifically lift the ban on politics announced on March 26, the day after the army struck against the Awami League.
A high-ranking Army official however, said he understood the order was designed to permit “de facto” political activity, since President Yahya Khan’s March speech ordering the ban “never was officially carried out in law.”
The order also cancelled a Martial Law regulation issued on March 26 prohibiting political processions and cancelling other procedures under which general and provincial elections were held in December last year.
It contained many of the same provisions of the cancelled regulations, as promulgated on December 21, 1969.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 11.10.1971