Dawn
22nd February 1969
Murshed’s Plea for release of Mujib : ‘Agartala Case be withdrawn in national interest’
LAHORE, Feb. 21: Mr. Justice S. M. Murshed has said the very fact that the president of Pakistan is agreeable to a dialogue with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman even on the release of the latter on parole postulates that he cannot be regarded as a “traitor to the country.’
The former Chief Justice of the East Pakistan High Court, in a statement issued here today on “Shaheed Day” said the reason and the logic was that an announcement be immediately made that the president had accepted the basic demands of the people as also those of the student community.
Demanding immediate withdrawal of the Agartala Conspiracy Case, Mr. Justice Murshed said: “I see no difficulty in withdrawing the case in toto, if only to soften a great tension” which, he said, had convulsed not merely East Pakistan but also a preponderance of the people in the Western Wing of the country.
APPEAL TO PEOPLE
He said apart from the vexed question of the legality of the agartala case, with regard to which he said he entertained “very strong opinion”, the clear and unmistakable verdict of the people was that the case be withdrawn forthwith in the national interest. A small freakish dissent upon this proposition was to say the least negligible he added.
Justice Murshed appealed to the nation to rise above all petty considerations in this grave hour of a national crisis and put out a conflagrations which, he said, was holding the country in its devastating grip.
The former Chief of the East Pakistan High Court observed that for a Pakistani, this day namely Feb. 21, was the birthday of an event of the most seminal consequence to the nation.
In commemoration of a sanctified day, today Justice Murshed said: “I offer my humble salutation to the immortal dead.”
TAXT OF STATEMENT
Following is the text of his statement: “For a Pakistani, this day, namely, Feb.21 is the birthday of an event of the most seminal consequence to the nation. I have already issued in Dacca, a short statement, in commemoration of a sanctified day. Today, I offer my humble salutation to the immortal dead.
“In the anguish of an over shadowing suspense as to the commencement of the proposed conference, summoned by the president, the demand of reason and logic is that an announcement be immediately made that the president of Pakistan has accepted the basic demand of the people as also those the student community. They are well-known and I need not repeat them.
“As to the Agartala Conspiracy Case, apart from the vexed question of its legality with regard to which I entertain very strong opinion, the verdict of the people is clear and unmistakable, that is, the case be withdrawn forthwith in the interest of national expediency. A small freakish dissent upon this proposition is, to say the least, negligible. The very fact that the President of Pakistan is agreeable to a dialogue with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, even on the release of the later on parole postulates that he cannot be regarded as a traitor to country. I see no difficulty in withdrawing the case in toto, if only to soften a great tension that has convulsed not merely East Pakistan but a preponderance of our people in the Western Wing of the country.
In this grave hour of a national crisis let us rise above all petty considerations which holds the country in its devastating grip. We all need utter the prayer with utmost sincerity that the light and guidance of God direct our course at a moment when the country stands before the cross -roads of an unprecedented convulsion.
We all stand in the sybilline presence of history and I repeat to every citizen of Pakistan to respond to the call of nation. The finger of our citizens of tomorrow are already directed towards us. -PPI.
সুত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু: পঞ্চম খণ্ড ॥ ষাটের দশক ॥ চতুর্থ পর্ব ॥ ১৯৬৯