whether section 144 or any other Government order passed on that memorable day.. whether that was justified and a legal order. That was never done It was said that the claim of the Bengali language will be recognized before we actually frame the constitution; the fullest regional autonomy to East Bengal; the question of one Unit: Joint electorates. It was said all these things will be done together as the basis for Constitution.
Dr. S. K. Sen (East Bengal: General): There was an agreement on the Point.
Mr. Ataur Rahman Khan: That agreement has not been signed by the people in Power. They refuse. It does not behoove them. Now it does not lie in their mouth to say that you agreed to a thing and now you are going back. Mr. Aziz Din's strongest argument was that Mr. Suhrawardy had supported it. Is that a crime? He says that such and such gave this statement or that statement. Yes, Sir, we have a right to refuse under the changed circumstances-when the very basis of the agreement has broken down. We have now no legs to stand. We have got to revise our decision. A scheme-whatever it may be-cannot be good or bad in absolute terms. You have to see to the attendant circumstances...
As I was telling you about parity, I must mention, Sir, that for the last eight years we fought against parity; we did not want parity; it is no basis of democracy; it is an arrangement we have been fighting against. Ultimately when we found we must have an agreed Constitution and that Constitution was to be based on federal scheme. We came to the conclusion that we must have parity; we agreed to it. We thought parity is the basis of federation and so we agreed to parity. But parity in what respect? Having 40:40 in this House and not in other matters at all. I now sincerely believe that they just put us into trap. They just got us agreed to that parity of 40 in this House from East Bengal and 40 from West Pakistan and then they forgot about all those assurances that parity was to be in all respects. Parity indicates Justice and fair play: parity means parity in all respects in all walks of life, in the total wealth of the country; in all things; in matters of appointments; in matters of posts; in matters of Industry and Commerce; in all matters possible there must be parity and equality. Have we done it Sir, Not at all. You, from West Pakistan, have usurped to yourself the two highest posts of Pakistan at the first opportunity that you got-the Governor-Generalship and the Premiership.
Sir, you know very well the position about Hast Bengal. Last year we had committed the greatest crime of routing the Muslim League there in East Bengal completely. That was very unfortunate. Had we given them a greater member of seats there in East Bengal, of course the calamity that came over there and is still persisting. would not have come. After the routing and complete dissolution of Muslim League, whose leaders in West Pakistan started thinking in different manner it has been said in this House repeatedly that the scheme of integration of Provinces in West Pakistan is one of the most momentous and most memorable, and many other mosts, movement plan or scheme, for the welfare of the people of Pakistan. You know Sir, the Quid-i-Azam that mighty brain, did not conceive this idea; neither during the struggle for Pakistan nor after the achievement of Pakistan this benevolent and beneficial project was thought of by the Quaid-i-Azam and if it was so good, could it never have escaped this mighty brain. Then
