পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (সপ্তম খণ্ড).pdf/১০১

67 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র : সপ্তম খণ্ড He said, "This refugee problem has been in the forefront in world press." The president made in clear that those refugees who belong to Pakistan are welcome to return to their homes, "I will make sure that they come back to Pakistan." In an obvious reference to India, president Yahya said, "The forces around us had been interfering in our internal matters." "They have interfered. If they had not interfered things would have been better," he added. The president recalled his statement he gave o Friday last urging the bonafide citizens of East Pakistan to return to their homes after the return of normalcy and peaceful conditions in the Eastern wing. He reiterated "a genuine Pakistani who left Pakistan under duress, threat or fright will be taken back." Asked what would e the mechanics for the refugees to return to their homes the president said, "They will be checked and allowed in." Amnesty President Yahya said that he was prepared to grant amnesty to those who were misled in East Pakistan y the anti-State elements and miscreants. "But I shall not grant amnesty to those who rebelled or committed loot, arson or rape. He said, "Every country has a right to deal with the criminals." "I shall deal with these criminals," he added. Asked if the members of the defunct Awami League continue to be the members of the National Assembly, the president explained the elections in Pakistan were held on individual basis. He said, "why should these members of the defunct Awami League lose their seats except of course those who became disqualified due to the commission of crime." The president added that those who became disqualified due to the commission of crime would lose their seats and by-elections would be held to fill their seats. But the president made it clear that this was his present thinking. He had not yet consulted his legal experts on the matter yet, the president added. The President said that elections were so peaceful that every Pakistani should be proud of it. "I will not let the elections be lost, "he added. Answering a question as to when and where Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the chief of the defunct Awami League, would be tried, the President said, "The Pakistan Government will deal with him as it deems fit." The President replied in the negative when asked if there were any possibilities of war between India and Pakistan in view of the war threats by Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. "I hope not." The President said.