HINDUSTAN STANDARD. NOVEMBER 6, 1971
W. PAK INTELLECTUALS WANT MUJIBS RELEASE
Lahore, November, 5.- The immediate release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the installation of a government of those elected in Pakistan’s first general elections last December have been urged by 42 signatories to an appeal to President Yahya Khan says Reuter.
The signatories, who include the leader of the Istiqlal Party former Air Marshal Asghar Khan and the Lenin Peace Prize Winner, poet Faiz Ahmed said the constitution of a democratic government was the best way to end the crisis threatening Pakistan’s political and economic stability.
Sheikh Mujib’s release said the signatories -political leaders, trade unionists, lawyers, journalists, writers, student leaders and university professors-would be “in keeping with the elementary canons of justice.” If release were not possible Sheikh Mujib who is being tried by a military tribunal for high treason should be brought to a proper judicial trial in open court the statement said.
The appeal coincided with the President’s arrival here yesterday from Rawalpindi on a three-day visit.
The signatories said they were appealing to the President in the light of his recent interview with the American Newsweek magazine which quoted him as saying he would be prepared to release Sheikh Mujib if the nation demanded it.
The statement said the best way to end the grave political crisis threatening Pakistan’s political and economic stability would be to establish a democratic government.
Such a government could be constituted by the representatives of the people who were elected in the country’s first general election in last December.
Heading the list of the signatories was the chief of the Istiqlal Parly retired Air Marshal Asghar Khan. Others included the leader of the Pakistan Socialist Party. Chowdhury Aslam, the former Editor of the English-language, daily Pakistan Times. Mazhar Ali Khan, the president of the Pakistan Trade Union Federation, Mirza Mohammad Ibrahim, and Lenin Peace Prize Winner, poet Faiz Ahmed.
The majority of the signatories are Left-wingers and the appeal is the first such to be made to the President in Lahore considered to be the biggest anti-Mujib centre in Pakistan.