YAHYA KHAN’S PROPOSALS
President Yahja Khan has announced on June 28 about his plan to transfer power to the representatives of the people at national and provincial levels in about four months or so.
In a nationwide broadcast he said past history of the constitution making had led him to conclude that framing of the constitution by National Assembly was not feasible. He then appointed a committee of experts to draft a constitution. When it was ready he would consult leader of the National Assembly and give the constitution a final shape. The constitution would be subject to amendments by the National Assembly according to procedure to be laid down in the constitution itself.
The procedural action of President Yahya Khan to speed-up the transfer of power to the people’s representatives and to appoint experts to frame the constitution and later democratically consult the leaders of the elected leaders are laudable.
The world is expecting that President Yahya Khan could cope up with his country’s problems and no other country should interfere with the internal affairs of Pakistan. Any country who meddles with other country’s internal affairs must be condemned.
No fresh elections
President Yahya Khan said further that there was no question of holding fresh elections. All members of the National Assembly and members of the Provincial Assembly elect would retain their status in their individual capacities.
Those who had taken part in the anti-state and antisocial activities or committed atrocities on fellow Pakistanis would be disquallified and their seats filled through byelections under the Legal Frame Work Center. After that the National and Provincial Assemblies would be summoned and governnments formed at national and provincial levels.
The National Assembly would not function as a Constituent Assembly but the Central Legislature on being sworn in.
What President Yahya Khan is pushing up and transfering the power to the representatives of the people is the best solution to cope with the present crisis. But it should be kept in mind that the transfer must bring, tranquillty and peace to the nation and the military operations should immediately stop. No other means to settle the problems and to bring back the “losing” prestige.
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 13.07.1971