পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড).pdf/৭০৮

681 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ দ্বিতীয় খন্ড power" -to him in line with the democratic processes and in the interest of preserving national integrity and solidarity. He told a correspondent that the constitution-making job could wait, What now took precedence was the transfer of power to where it belonged, namely the single largest party in the National Assembly. Mr. Asghar Khan flew into Karachi yesterday from Rawalpindi on way to Dacca. He had an appointment with Mr. Z. A. Bhutto in the City but the meeting, according to the Air Marshal (Retd.) could not take place due to Mr. Bhutto's preoccupations. Mr. Asghar Khan will fly out to Dacca this (Friday) morning to meet Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He said a hysteria had been deliberately built on six points and he considered it his duty not as a leader of men or head of a political organisation but as a citizen, to defuse it. In his view, the hysteria needed radical, surgical treatment as it was a classical method of delaying the process of ushering in democracy. He expressed his sense of shock at the happenings in East Pakistan and said: "Our heart bleeds for our brethren there just as it would if the same happened to the people in West Pakistan". He again emphasized that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman should be immediately called upon to form the Government with all the requisite power and authority. "We cannot see our East Pakistani brethren being treated like this. Nor can we brook our dear country disintegrated", he declared. The people in West Pakistan, he pointed out. must understand that their counterparts in the Eastern Wing had for long been smarting with a sense of deprivation and frustration. They must be allowed to enjoy and exercise power which after all is their right, he said. Mr. Asghar Khan told a questioner that while Sheikh Mujib's position on constitution-making was fixed, that of Mr. Bhutto had been flexible in view of the 1 otter's own admission that the People's Party had fought the elections on the basis of foreign policy and economic programme. Therefore, while magnanimity as a majority leader was expected of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Mr. Bhutto on his part should have shown greater understanding and harmony, he observed. The Air Marshal (Retd.) however, made it clear he was opposed to the philosophy behind the six points and thought that such a rigid stand by the Awami League was not necessary. Nevertheless, an understanding was still possible in the larger national interests. Asked what he would talk to with Sheikh Mujib, Mr. Asghar Khan said he would try to read his (Sheikh's) mind in view of the latest critical situation and see what best could be done to tide over the crisis.