Nurul Amin made Vice-President
NEW DELHI. DEC. 21-The old guard watched warily to day as President Bhutto addressed himself to internal problem, initiating reforms, imposing austerity and launching a general shake-up in a follow-up of his promise of a new Pakistan, say agencies.
In the only major political move of his second day in office, he named the Bangladesh collaborator and the leader of the Pakistan democratic Party, Mr. Nurul Amin as the country’s first Vice-President, presumably a ceremonial position.
Mr. Amin today accepted the post of Vice-President at the request of President.
He will be sworn in shortly an official spokesman announced.
The Pakistan President in his effort to wipe out the semi blance of army rule, today ordered the immediate withdrawal of all pending cases against students, labourers and peasants in military courts.
The President according to Radio Pakistan commuted death sentences to transportation for the life and abolished whipping introduced by President Yahya Khan for crimes like corruption.
Mr. Bhutto also asked Mr. G. Ahmed, a former Interior Secretary, to submit a comprehensive report on radical reforms in the police organisation.
To conserve the country’s dwindling foreign exchange, the Pakistan Government today announced that no Pakistani citizen, except members of officials delegations and students with special permission would allowed to proceed abroad.
He declared that he would take no salary as President.
He directed that Governors, ministers and officials should travel economy class when they made air journeys on official business.
Visits of Pakistani nationals to India are not permissible under any circumstances under the Central Government order, which comes into force immediately.
Mr. Bhutto also announced two key appointments today. They are Mr. Aziz Ahmed as the secretary general in the Foreign Ministry and Mr. Yahya Bakhtiar an advocate of quetta who succeeds Mr. Sharifuddin Peerzada as the Attorney-General.
Mr. Aziz Ahmed, former Ambassador in the USA. had served under Bhutto as Foreign Secretary when he was Foreign Minister under President Ayub Khan.
Mr. Bhutto followed up his overnight announcement of he sacking of Pakistan Press Trust Chairman, Maj-Gen. Habibullah Khan and Pakistan Times editor. Mr. Z. A. Suleri.
Mr. Bhutto appealed to the Big Powers not to be oblivious to the shift in the balance to power in the region.
Answering questions at a press conference last night, Mr. Bhutto said the balance had shifted temporarily and the shift should not be allowed to become permanent, according to Pakistan Radio.
Mr. Bhutto said he was prepared to “talk with India on a basis of equality and justice in order to reach a lasting settlement between the two countries.”
“But we will die rather than a settlement imposed on us by force” he added.
President Bhutto said the most important thing for him now was to “resume negotiation with our brothers in East Pakistan, with the genuine leaders of East Pakistan.”
UPI in a late night report from Karachi said at a rally held there yesterday speakers accused Mr. Bhutto himself of being part of the military junta responsible for Pakistan’s defeat.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 22.12.1971