Morning News
7th July 1958
Centre Has No Right to keep Money
In Hand & Allow People to Die
– Suhrawardy
The Awami League Chief, Mr. H. S. Suhrawardy said that the imposition of President’s Rule in East Pakistan was “a severeblow” to democracy, reports APP. He appealed to the Centre to withdraw section 193 immediately and to install into office Mr. Ataur Rahman Khan. Mr. Suhrawardy was addressing a largely-attended public meeting at Narayanganj yesterday afternoon.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, General Secretary, East Pakistan Awami League was in the chair. Mr. Suhawardy said that they wanted the withdrawal of the President’s rule not because they were anxious to get into power, but because the application of Sec. 193 was a blow to democracy. “Indeed we would be much better out of power, I can guarantee that not one seat will be lost to us in the next election if we remain out of office.” he added. It could not be gainsaid, Mr. Suhrawardy said, that when Article 193 was lifted, Mr. Ataur Rahman Khan must be called back to power, because he enjoyed the confidence of the House. Referring to Prime Minister Malik Firoz Khan Noon’s recent statement that Mr. Ataur Rahman Khan would be allowed to form a ministry after the withdrawal of Sec. 193, Mr. Suhrawardy said that in stating so, the Prime Minister had merely stated something which was constitutionally correct and was in accord with justice and commonsense. The Prime Minister had, therefore, not shown any partiality in making his statement.
Dwelling on the present situation in the country, the Awami League chief said that the people were … to blame this or that person for the instability and for the suspicion created in people’s mind vis-a-vis the holding of the general elections on schedule. “If the people went straight”, Mr. Suhrawardy said, “elections are bound to be held.” “In 11 years Bharat had two general elections, and were preparing for the third one while in Pakistan, we have not had one” he said. Mr. Suhrawardy proceeding said instead of blaming others “we should blame ourselves and those of us who for their self-interests change sides and offer themselves as puppets to be played with and bring about state of confusion and frustration in the country.” He said that it was for the people to correct their representatives.
Electorate System
Referring to the electorate system, the Awami League chief warned the people against the propaganda being carried on by the Muslim League and he Jamaat-e-Islami leaders for the re-introduction of separate electorate. He said that in separate electorate, West Pakistan would not be divided while East Pakistan would be divided into two the Muslims and the non-Muslims-based more or less on antagonism. The Hindus that would come under separate electorate would obviously be those who would be communally-minded with the result that West Pakistan would be solid and East Pakistan divided. “So these leaders of West Pakistan come here to mislead the people in the name of Islam which has nothing to do with the electorate system.” They even went to the extent of demanding referendum or public vote on this issue. It was clear, he added, that nothing which was Islamic could be determined by votes. Continuing, Mr. Suhrawardy said that in no country of the world, including the Muslim countries, was separate electorate in operation.
Centre Warned
Referring to the present “distressing condition” of the province, Mr. Suhrawardy said that due to drought this year output of corps would not be satisfactory. He regretted that the Prime Minister was “wrongly advised” about the situation in the province and was given the impression that East Pakistan only demanded more and more money. The Awami League chief warned the Centre that they had “no right to allow people to die and at the same time keep money in hand.”
He appealed to the Prime Minister to come to East Pakistan and see things for himself.
Mujib
Earlier, addressing the meeting Sheikh Mujibur Rahman alleged that East Pakistan had been neglected and deprived of its due share during the Muslim League regime. A large number of industries were set up in and around Karachi and elsewhere in West Pakistan, while not a single industry was allowed to be established in East Pakistan. Threat Sheikh Mujib warned the Centre that if East Pakistan was not given equal share on 50-50 basis they would demand “their share on the basis of population” “and we known how to realise our demands.”
Zahir
Mr. Zahiruddin, General Secretary of the All-Pakistan Awami League, said that the Muslim League representatives at the Centre during the Muslim League regime had done the greatest harm” to the cause of East Pakistan, If any one had to be blamed for the present condition of the province, it was the Muslim League, he added. He said that the Awami League had tried to do all that was possible to correct the injustice done to the province in the past years and put both the wings of Pakistan on equal basis. Awami League would launch struggle against any injustice, he declared. He criticised the KSP leaders for going to Karachi to receive their “political guidance from there. He said that the people of East Pakistan would and allow their rate to be decided in Karachi or at Nathiagall.
Khalequ
Mr. Abdul Khaleque, former Central Minister, said that ballot box would decide the fate of those how “helped in the imposition of Sec. 193 in the province.” He stressed the need for planned irrigation in East Pakistan for the purpose of growing more food and bringing under cultivation more lands.
Mansoor
The former Provincial Commerce Minister Mr. Mansoor Ali Made a strong plea for the holding of general election according to the present schedule. He appealed to the people to unite and raise their voice to hold the election in time under joint electorate system. He said that any attempt to delay the election would be strongly resisted by the people of East Pakistan. “If four and-a-half crores of people of East Pakistan are united under the leadership of Mr. Suhrawardy, there is no force on earth to delay the election.