deteriorating political situation in West Pakistan. The government in Islamabad, having failed to put down the Bengali rebellion with a quick, over-whelming show of military force, now seems very uncertain how to deal with the situation from here. Criticism of the military government of Mohammad Yahya Khan is increasing. And the leading civilian political figure in West Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, is talking openly about the possibility of a revolution or a coup d'etat against the military junta that “inns the country. In this complicated and very dangerous situation, there is one man who conceivably could bring about a settlement which would be less than disastrous for the major parties concerned. IIc is Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, head of the now outlawed Awami League of Hast Pakistan whose party won a clear majority in the country's national elections last December.
Since the army crackdown on March 25. Sheikh Mujibur has been under arrest in West Pakistan. Charged with treason, he has been tried in secret by a military court. The verdict, which carries the threat of a death sentence, has not been announced.
Sheikh Mujibur is believed to be the only Bengali leader, with his prestige and personal following, who might be able to reverse, the ruinous trend toward chaos in East Pakistan. Even he would have great difficulty in selling any political solution to his followers that aimed at anything less than full independence. But without him, no solution is even conceivable.
It is doubtful, to be sure, that the government of West Pakistan is rational enough at this point to acquit the Sheikh of the charges against him and enter into serious negotiations. The essential thing is that the possibility should not before closed by the conviction and possible execution of the Bengali leader. The United States, which has continued to supply aid to Pakistan in the hope of exerting some restraining influence 011 the government in Islamabad, should use whatever leverage it has to prevent that ultimate tragedy.
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