PAKISTAN OBSERVER
24th April 1955
U. F. PARTY DISSOCIATES
WITH SUHRAWARDY
Ataur Rahman and Sheikh Mujib Suspended
(By A Staff Reporter)
The United Front Parliamentary Party at its meeting at the residence of Mr. A. K. Fazlul Huq on Friday has in a resolution made an end to all connection with Mr. H. S. Suhrawardy, the Central Law Minister and Awami League chief. The meeting has also set up an Organising Committee of 61 members with Mr. A. K. Fazlul Huq, as Chairman to organise public opinion throughtout the province on the basis of the 21-point programme. The meeting has also called upon Messrs Ataur Rahman, Sheikh Mujibar Rahman and Abul Mansur Ahmed (all are Awami League MLAs in the Front) to show cause why they should not be expelled from the U. F. Parliamentary Party.
RESOLUTIONS
The United Front Party, after fully reviewing the political situation in the country, specially with regard to East Bengal since the imposition of Section 92-A regime, Vis-a-vis the statements, speeches and action of Mr. Suhrawardy, one of the leaders of the Party, and after fully considering his Press statements to the effect, immediately after being sworn in as a Central Minister without any consultation or reference to the U. F. Party or that there was no “hurry” for withdrawing 92-A rule from East Bengal, that the U. F. was a “conglomeration” of various parties, and many other statements of his intimidating Martial Law in East Bengal, the Party refused to accept his most “undemocratic” “Constituent Convention” in its present form and structure, and also the part he has been playing in the matter of imposition and lifting of Section 92-A and many other such actions of his, is unanimously of opinion that this party disowns him and that he be asked not to utilise the good name, and reputation of the Party for his own selfish ends.
CONSTITUTIONAL MEANS
In view of the Resolution rejecting the proposed Constituent Convention as announced by the G.-G. as being totally unacceptable to the people of East Bengal the meeting of the U. F. parliamentary Party further resolved unanimously that all possible Constitutional means be adopted to oppose the proposed Constituent Convention.
SUSPENSION
In another resolution U. F. Parliamentary Party had anxiously and serious considered the charges brought against Messrs. Ataur Rahman Khan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Abul Mansur Ahmed, MLAs, ex-Minister’s belonging organisationally to the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League, but elected as MLAs on the United Front Party ticket and who had, during the last ten months or so, by their various speeches, statements, utterances and activities, been relentlessly carrying on a vigorous campaign in order to effect disunity and disruption within the Party which is the embodiment of the aspirations, wishes and sentiments of the people of East Bengal.”
(i) Whereas the said members in an unholy alliance with Mr. Suhrawardy to oust Mr. Fazlul Huq from Leadership of the Party, by means fair or foul contra to the 21-point had deliberately and intentionally, for their own selfish ends, brought about disuption within the Party by initiating a futile vote of no-confidence against the leader of the Party and created a handy excuse for the Central Government to continue 92-A regime in East Bengal and (ii) whereas even after the failure of that abortive and ill-timed no-confidence motion which was turned down by an overwhelming majority of the MLAs, present, these members instead of submitting to the democratic decision of the majority went on campaigning against the Party and Party decision, in blatant violation of their honourable pledges and commitments they had accepted and signed in the nomination papers in the name of the U. F. Parliamentary Party and (iii) whereas these members went on creating groups and factions within the Party and thus misleading public opinion and betraying their cause and (iv) whereas these members without any reference to the party went on hobnobbing and bargaining with the Centre over the head of the Leader thus helping to create confusion and misunderstanding in the minds of the people and in perpetusting 92-A rule in East Bengal and (v) whereas these members have subscribed themselves to a resolution of the Jinnah Awami League’s Working Committee held at Karachi from 1st to 310 April, 1955, pledging support to a Constitution even by an ordinance or Proclamation which is a colossal betrayal of the fundamentals of democracy and the rule of Law and (vi) whereas these members have again been hobnobbing and bargaining with Mr.Suhrawardy and the Central Ministers to accept the proposed Constituent Convention, against the decision of the United Front Parliamentary Party and (vii) whereas some of these members indulged in most abusive indecent and unparliamentary personal attacks against the Leader and some members in public meetings held at Dacca on 15.4.55, the meeting after fully analysing and reviewing the position was unanimously of opinion that “they be suspended from the United Front Parliamentary Party with immediate effect and they should not, from now, utilise the good name, reputation and credit of the Party, in any manner or in any place whatsoever and they are directed to show cause within a fortnight from the date of publication of this to the leader why they will not be expelled from the party.”
The meeting adjourned till April 26.