Pakistan Objects To British M. P.’s Statement
LONDON, July 2 Pakistan protested to Britain yesterday against a British member of Parliament who said refugees in East Bengal should not return to their ravaged homeland reports AP.
Pakistan has said the statement by the Conservative member Mr. Toby Jessel, was unfounded and harmful to relief efforts.
The Pakistani High Commissioner here told Sir Denis Greenhill, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office, that President Yahya Khan had repeatedly urged refugees to return from India.
Mr. Jesse, one of a four-man Parliamentary delegation that visited East Bengal two weeks ago reportedly said on Tuesday: “I could not put my hand on my heart and tell refugees to come back”.
This advice threatened to frustrate relief efforts both by the Pakistani Government and by international agencies the High Commissioner said.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 3.7.1971