Dawn
26th February 1969
R.T.C. BEGINS THIS MORNING: Conference to adjourn till after Id :
Asghar, Murshed and Azam also to attend
From M. A. MANSURI
RAWALPINDI, Feb 25: The Government-Opposition Round Table Conference on political and constitutional issues facing the country will begin tomorrow at 10-30 a.m. at the President’s Guest House. This was announced here this evening by Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, Convener of the Democratic Action Committee at the end of a two hour meeting of the DAC- second during the day. Independent leaders-Air Marshal Asghar Khan, Mr. Justice Murshed and LT-Gen Azam Khan-have also agreed to attend the conference, Nawabzada Saheb said.
President Ayub’s 15-member team for the conference also held a four-hour meeting this morning at the president’s house. The team’s spokesman, Mr. Qasim Malik, later said the meeting had a general discussion on the basis of some of the recent statements of the Opposition leaders. The Six-Point Awami League chief, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who had arrived here last night with a 16- member team which included three legal experts, was present at both the sessions of the DAC today.
Air Marshal Asghar khan also attended the evening session. Mr. Justice Murshed was present at both.
Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan said he had a talk on telephone with Lt-Gen Azam Khan and he has also promised to come tomorrow by the first available flight.
Asked by newsmen, he declined to spell out the demands which the DAC leaders had agreed today to take to the Round Table Conference.
He could not say whether the conference would adjourn for some days after the first sitting for Id or it would re-assemble soon after the Id.
Nawabzada looked embarrassed when pressed to explain whether the DAC would stick to its original basic demands or has added more to them in view of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s statements since his release.
All that he could say was “there can’t be serious differences of opinion where it concerns national problems.”
The Awami League chief looked in a relaxed mood and dispelled by his gestures the doubts among political workers anxiously waiting outside the DAC’s meeting place that DAC’s unity would be shaken because of the demands he had voiced before coming to Rawalpindi.
According to indications available from DAC circles, the understanding reached between Sheikh Mujib and the other DAC leaders is based very delicately and cannot be spelled out.
Sheikh Mujib came to the meeting after giving positive commitments to students who have become an important factor in East Pakistan.
Besides he cannot ignore the position that has now been taken up by Maulana Bhashani-his main rival in East Pakistan politics.
These are some of the reasons for which he cannot totally give up his latest demands-representation on the basis of population, Awami League’s original six-point programme and consideration of East Pakistan students’ 11-Point demands.
However, according to indications available in the Awami League circles, their chief has based his future programme on realism and his immediate concern was restoration of democracy in the country.
What specific understanding, if at all, he has reached with the other components of the DAC to accommodate the two positions is not known. But it is certain that majority of the DAC leaders invited to attend the conference, including Mian Daultana, have given him an undertaking that they would offer their support to his demands for proportional representation and regional autonomy at the appropriate time.
At the opening session tomorrow, the conference is likely to confine its discussions to a review of the overall political situation in the country. It may then adjourn to re-assemble after Id. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is booked to leave for Dacca tomorrow evening by PIA.
APP adds: The date of the conference was fixed following a communication received by the President from the DAC Convener, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, the official announcement said.
Talking to newsmen after the first DAC session, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan said that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was informed at the meeting about the discussions held by the DAC earlier. Besides the political situation and the round table conference, the eight- points of the DAC were also discussed.
MUJIB’S VIEWS
Asked whether Sheikh Mujibur Rahman put forward his views about representation to East Pakistan on population basis, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan only said: “He also took part in the discussions”.
He said Mr. S. M. Murshed, former chief Justice of East Pakistan High Court and now an independent leader, met him this morning before the start of the DAC meeting.
Replying to a question he said he felt that Mr. Murshed would Insha Allah agree to any decision taken by the DAC.
He declined to comment when a correspondent asked whether the six-points of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League now formed part of the DAC’s programme.
Asked whether the independent leaders would support the DAC viewpoint at the conference, Nawabzada Nasrullah said: “We understand there are no two opinions as far as the national issues are concerned.”
BHUTTO, BHASHANI
Nawabzada Nasrullah said he had no information whether Mr. Z. A. Bhutto, Chairman of the Pakistan people’s party, and Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, President of the National Awami party, or their representatives would be attending the conference.
He said there might be some increase in the number of DAC representatives at the conference. Replying to a question he said the six-point Awami League would be represented at the conference by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Syed Nazrul Islam.
PPI adds: The opening session of the RTC tomorrow is expected to be a short one.
Before the formal meeting begins, pressmen, Press photographers and T V. cameramen covering the conference will be allowed inside to have a feel of the conference room. There is already a very large number of pressmen and press photographers in Rawalpindi, many of whom have come from Karachi, Lahore and Dacca specially for the conference.
About a dozen foreign correspondents and T. V. cameramen are also here to cover the historic Government-Opposition talks which may lead to changes in this country’s international nuances.
It is learnt that tomorrow session would not go beyond formal speeches. President Ayub would welcome the D. A. C. delegation and the three independent politicians and Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan will reciprocate by a short speech on behalf of the DAC.
সুত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু: পঞ্চম খণ্ড ॥ ষাটের দশক ॥ চতুর্থ পর্ব ॥ ১৯৬৯