Morning News
12th July 1958
Huq’s Call to Elect Right
Type of MenSarkar Slates
Suhrawardy’s ‘Double-faced’ Policy
By a Staff Reporter
The octogenarian politician and founder of the KSP, Mr. A. K. Fazlul Huq, called upon the people to vote for those in the coming general elections “who are true to their words and deeds.” He warned the people not to be led away by slogans and advised them to elect persons who resembled Mr. Abu Hossain Sarkar “in appearance.”
The crowd which had gathered at the Paltan Maidan yesterday (Friday) to demand the immediate restoration of parliamentary Government in East Pakistan, welcomed the 85 year old leader with full-throated slogans as Mr. Huq drove to the meeting in a car with the president East Pakistan KSP, Syed Azizul Huq. Pin-drop silence prevailed in the meeting when the old and ailing leader began his speech sitting on a wooden chair. He arrived at the maidan while the leader of the KSP coalition, Mr. Abu Hossain Sarkar, was addressing the meeting. Beginning his speech with a verse from the Holy Quran, and translating it into Urdu, Mr. Fazlul Huq invoked God’s blessings to fulfill his responsibilities. He assured the people that he would continue to serve them whenever he would be called upon to do so. “It does not matter if in fulfilling my duties, I lose my life,” he added. The former Governor, tears in his eyes, expressed his grave concern over the flood situation in the province. He said he was receiving alarming reports from official and non-official sources about the calamities ahead. He asked the people to realise the gravity of the situation and contribute their best to improve it. Mr. Huq told the audience about his illness and said that he had to attend the meeting as people were waiting for him. He said that the doctors had advised him not to move but he could not resist the desire to come to them. “It is a part of my duty” he said, “for which I am responsible to God.” The leader of the KSP Coalition party in the East Pakistan Assembly, Mr. Abu Hossain Sarkar, said that during his short term of office as the Chief Minister of the province he was trying to prepare a list of persons responsible for smuggling and corruption. He said the Awamis were fully aware of the implications of such a list, hence they made an all-out effort to throw him out of power, After the completion of the list, he said culprits could have been punished with an iron hand.
AL-NAP ALLIANCE
Mr. Sarkar said that the Awamis made an alliance with the NAP only to “grab” power. For the sake of “Gaddi”, they could reach an agreement even with a “Devil”, he added. The former Chief Minister, however assured the people that if he was entrusted with the duties of running the affairs of the province, he would make the administration clean. Referring to the alleged corruption during the 21-month Awami rule in the province, Mr. Sarkar said that the Centre was not prepared to give Rs. 13 crores to East Pakistan as it was feared that at least “Rs. 10 crores would be mismanaged by the Awami Government.”
SLATES MUJIB
The KSP leader deplored the statement made by Awami League General Secretary, Skeikh Mujibur Rahman, in which he was reported to have said that “Abu Hossain Sarkar could be purchased for Rs. 15,000.” Expressing his regret for such “irresponsible” utterances, Mr. Sarkar said he had earned much more money in his life.
“DUAL POLITICS
Talking about Mr. Suhrawardy’s “dual politics”, he recalled the early days of Mr. Suhrawardy’s political career when according to him, the Awami Chief was “tasting” each and every political party. Continuing Mr. Sarkar said that even after the establishment of Pakistan Mr. Suhrawardy had preferred to remain a Bharati citizen in Wast Bengal. “As a true disciple of Mr. Gandhi,” he said, “Mr. Suhrawardy was sermonising with Bharati Congress leaders for non-violence.”
Mr. Sarkar reminded the people of the popular song recited at the prayer meetings of Mr. Gandhi and said that those days Mr. Suhrawardy himself used to recite “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” with devoted attention.
He also said that while entering into the Cabinet of Mr. Mohammad Ali of Bogra, Mr. Suhrawardy had declared that he had no connection with any political party. The only objective of Mr. Suhrawardy and his party was to remain in power he said and added that for his sake they could stoop to “any level.” Mr. Sarkar also criticised the continued stay of Mr. Ataur Rahman Khan in the Chief Minister’s residence and said that no “honourable” man could have done this. He said that there was a provision that the Ministers could live in their houses for 15 days after quitting their office but generally “respectable” persons did not remain in them for such a length of time. They vacated it earlier, he added, Mr. Sarkar said that once he also used to live in that house which was now occupied by Mr. Ataur Rahman Khan but in those days it was an ordinary house. Now, he said, there were air-conditioned rooms in the Chief Minister’s residence and it had all the amenities of modern life. The KSP leader regretted that the Awami leaders when coming to power forgot everything about the people.
HAMIDUL HUQ
The Pakistan KSP President, Mr. Hamidul Huq Choudhry, made a startling revelation in the meeting that Prime Minister Noon had himself informed him on telephone that no Government could be allowed to form in E. Pakistan with the assistance of the NAP. Referring to his talk with the Prime Minister, he said that Mr. Noon had insisted on his opinion and had advised him to form the Ministry with Awami League. Mr. Choudhry said that Mr. Noon was incapable of understanding the problems of East Pakistan. Even if it was true that according to Mr. Noon, the major part of the revenues was collected from West Pakistan, it was not proper for him to say that the Central Government could not keep on feeding East Pakistan. Mr. Choudhry expressed his great concern over the proposed Farakka barrage in West Bengal which he said would starve the people of this province. He pleaded for better relations with all countries, including Bharat. The KSP Leader held the Awami League and the NAP responsible for the imposition of Sec. 193 in East Pakistan.
NOON WARNED
Earlier, the General Secretary, East Pakistan KSP, Mr. Mohammad Sulaiman, warned Prime Minister Noon that the people of East Pakistan would not tolerate anything against their wishes. He said it was Mr. Noon again who had stated during the period the Central Government to call Mr. tan, that the people of this province were not Muslims. Mr. A. Rab, MPA, who also addressed the meeting accused Mr. Suhrawardy of conspiring with Mr. Noon for the imposition of Sec. 193 in this province.
The meeting through several resolutions, demanded immediate restoration of parliamentary Government in East Pakisan and urged upon the Government to call Mr. Abu Hossain Sarkar to form the Ministry.
By another resolution, the meeting expressed its firm belief that fair and free election were not possible in Awami League regime. Deep concern was expressed over the proposed Farakka bund in West Bengal which would ultimately ruin the economy of East Pakistan. The execution of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Mr. Imre Nagy, was also condemned at the meeting.