Morning news
30th August 1963
AL Will Not Like Any Shift In Approach To
Foreign Policy, Says Mujib
(By Our Staff Reporter)
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, former General Secretary of the East Pakistan Awami League, yesterday made it abundantly clear that his party would not like any shift in its approach to foreign policy wich should be based on the dictum: friendship with all and malice towards none.
Although he maintains he is not aware of any foreign country interfering with the affairs of Pakistan, he categorically stated that there should be no external interference by any country, be it China, Russia or America.
The Awami leader returned to Dacca yesterday after the completion of his political mission in London where he had been to meet his chief Mr.H.S.Suhrawardy. He was warmly received at the airport by his friends, admirers and Awami League workers. Sheikh Mujib spent ten days with Mr. Suhrawardy away from the pressing and conflicting political problems. Mr. Suhrawardy is expected to return to Pakistan early in October.
Talking to newsmen at the Airport, Sheikh Mujib said all political problems, including the revival of the party, formation of the NDP and the controversial issue of foreign policy would be fully discussed at the Working Committee meeting of the all Pakistan Awami League. But he thought it would be difficult to convene the meeting soon as leaders and workers would remain busy in the ensuing by-elections.
He told a correspondent he had no knowledge that the West Pakistan Awami League had accepted the concept of independent and neutral foreign policy.
With a sharp retort to a correspondent, the Awami Leader said his party’s programme was not confined to foreign policy alone. It covered all aspects of national life and embraced the principles of fundamental rights, true democracy and allied matters.
He declared the country should he united against a “dictatorial regime” which had “usurped” powers. The battle for Pakistan was fought for the establishment of democracy ad (and) not for dictatorship.
About the formation of the proposed NDP, he said such an organisation could be formed only on the basis of some agreed programmes. It would naturally take some time and could not be decided in a haste.
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