INDIAN-PAKISTANI DISPUTE
Repatriation of Diplomats Postponed
India Expected to provide Facilities
The repatriation of Pakistani diplomats from Calcutta and Indian diplomats from Dacca has been delayed-and a Pakistani spokeman Tuesday blamed India for the hold up a report from Islamabad disclosed.
He said it had not been possible to complete arrangements for the evacuation of Pakistani personnel from calcutta because the Indian Government had not provided facilities for Pakistans Deputy High Commissioner, Mehdi Masud, to meet all Pakistani officials to determine the number who must be brought out.
Pakistan had proposed to India last Saturday that a reciprocal repatriation of staff from Calcutta and Dacca should take place Wednesday, the spokesman stated.
He said Pakistan had agreed to Russian aircraft being used to carry Indian personnel from Dacca to Calcutta and in return had asked New Delhi’s permission to use Iran airlines for the evacuation of Pakistan staff and their families from Calcutta to Karachi.
The spokesman said Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner was allowed to meet some personnel only, and his efforts to establish contact with remaining Pakistan officials had not been successful.
Pakstan’s diplomatic mission In Calcutta was taken over last month by East Pakistanis describing themselves as representatives of the so-called Bangla Desh Government.
Pakistan then decided to close down its mission because its Deputy High Commissioner could not function in Calcutta due to hostile demonstraton, the spokeman added.
BHUTTO’S VIEW
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto leader of the West Pakistan left wing People’s party, has continued President Yahya Khan’s milltary regime against “inordinate and unnecessary” in transfer the power to elected representatives of the people.
At a press conference in Lahore, Bhutto, former foreign Minister of Pakistan, said Tuesday that if there was delay, “the situation may get out of the hands of all of us and enemies of Pakistan, will be the gainers”.
Bhuttos party emerged as the largest from West Pakistan in last December’s general election which saw the triumph in East Pakistan of the now-banned Awami league headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bhutto told reporters Tuesday the present crisis facing the nation could be “effectively and permanently” resolved by the public participation.
It was a national crsis to be surmounted by national effort, be added.
As to the timing of the people’s participation, only the government could decide the right momentum Bhutto said.
The People’s party leader is known to be urging President Yahya to restore civil rule wherever possible, for which he is under attack from rightwing politicians arguing that power should not be transferred in East Pakistan until normal conditions are restored there.
At Tuesday’s press conference, Bhutto, describing this argument as perverse, said one could ask why not a curfew be imposed and military operations statied in West pakistan.
In India
In India, he said presidential rule had been imposed quite often in different states while other provincial governments worked on normally.
He demanded the lifting of censorship and ban on political activity in the country “in the near future; at an appropriate time”.
Bhutto said the result of such curbs was that all India Radio, were being given credence. the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Western press.
He also urges the President to address the nation in a radio soon to give a resume of events since his last broadcast on March 26 in which he announced a ban on Sheikh Mujibur defiant Awami League.
Dacca Trial
In Karachi Lfeutenant General Tikka Khan, millitary governor of East Pakistan, has ordered a group of East Pakistani student leaders to appear before the martial law authorities next Monday.
His official announcement in Dacca; also published here Tuesday, named four of them who belonged to the students action committee in East Pakistan until the army cracked down in March 25 on the independence movement led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The anouncement said all faced charges under four sections of the penal code and two martial Law regulations.
The students action committee wielded demonstrable power in Dacca during March.- Rtr.
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 06.05.1971