Billy’s Mail Box
Karachi, 28th June, 1971
Dear Billy, I am thankful to you for publishing my letter in your paper on 2-6-1971. Meanwhile
I have read the letter of Drs. Suharno of Dj. Prendjak 55. Djakarta on the subject, published in your paper on 16-6-71.
May I explain to him that Shaikh Mujibur Rahman was offered Prime Ministership of Pakistan as a prize for his victory in the gerneral elections held on December 7. 1970.
Shaikh Mujib took part in the elections on a national basis and not on regional. His Party won 160 seats of the 300 National Assembly seats, which is 54% but not 98% as misunderstood by you. Shaikh Mujib’s party did not won a single seat in West Pakistan. Even so he was offered Prime Ministership by Presiden Yahya Khan.
About your reference to the economic and income disparity between the two wings of the country, was Shaikh Mujib interested to improve the lot of the East Pakistanis, he would have accepted the higher post in the country which would him to remove the disparity.
President Yahya Khan was sincere enough to proceed to Dacca and hold protracted negotiations which Shaikh Mujibur Rahman for transferring power to the elected representatives of the people. But the Shaikh was not prepared to see reason. His attitude became more and more uncompromising and at the same time the defunct Awami League High Command prepared a plan for seccession, by hook or crook.
During the period from and to 25th March, Mujib’s followers resorted to terror tactics, killing, burning and looting non East Pakistanis in East Pakistan, Even the army was not spared. Banks were looted, state property was destroyed or damaged.
During the same period the borders of East Pakistan with India which were guarded by Mujib’s men were thrown open to the Indian infiltrators along with their arms and ammunition for supporting the anti-state elements in East Pakistan. The situation reached its climax on 23rd March when the followers of Mujib burned the Pakistan Flag, dishonouring the picture of the Father of the Nations and hoisted their own flag during more than three weeks Mjuib run a paralell Government inside Pakistan, disobeying order for the legal Government and twice igonerd the summon from the Head of State to see him. In such circumstances no Government in any country can keep silent and let such lawlessness go unchecked.
About the refugee problem you dont need to be worried. In any such situation migration take place. But the number of displaced persons from East Pakistan has been exaggerated by India for dual purposes. First : To get as much aid as possible from abroad and second : for maligning Pakistan and keep the tension between the
million shelterless, jobless and slumdwellers of Calcutta. They too need aid from the “white sheep” through the black sheep (the displaced person from East Pakistan).
Since President Yahya Khan invited the genuine Pakistanis to return home, thousands of them are now returning home. This fact has been testified by two British Parliamentary delegations who recently toured East Pakistan and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees who himself met some of the returning East Pakistanis. With the return of the displaced persons from Inida let us hope that even the aftermath of the Bangla Desh Hoax will be over.
Drs. Suharno, we never blame India without reason. In the present East Pakistani crisis India is blantantly interfering in our internal affairs. 1) India is sending armed infiltrators into East Pakistan. Four of them have been captured alive. Many killed and some escaped back to India leaving a large number or arms, ammunition and other war material “Made in India”. 2) India is harbouring anti Pakistan elements in Calcutta, giving them political as well as financial support. 3). India is training East Pakistani deserters on its territory and smuggling them back to East Pakistan for subversive activities.
No country will tolarate such interference in its internal affairs. Not only Pakistan, but all self-respecting nations, including Indonesia oppose such interference. Pakistan never interfered in other internal affairs and will let no one to interfere in her internal affairs. No one should misunderstand and miscalculate. We are prepared to defend our national integrity and independence at all cost, no matter come what may.
The above are facts which have been testified by foreign correspondents and dignitaries visiting East Pakistan.
Foreign correspondents, and T.V. teams are now free to visit East Pakistan and we cordially invite Indonesian correspondents to see themselves the normal conditions prevailing there.
Yours sincerely,
MAHMOOD
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 06.07.1971