Q. 7: If the Six Points did not violate the LFO then why was the Awami League's legal right not conceded to see the Six Points through in the Constitution, by virtue of its absolute majority in the National Assembly.
Answer: A constitution is the product of consensus. It is not an ordinary bill what can be rammed through by a simple majority representing just one region of the country. The President showed his gesture of goodwill and confidence by changing parity to oneman-one-vote; in return he expected that the regional majority will be rationally used to work out a constitution acceptable to all parts of the country.
But unfortunately that stage was never reached. Inspite of its majority in the National Assembly to Awami League refused to come to it, unless power was first transferred to it whereas the commitment to the nation was that a constitution will be framed first to determine the pattern of transfer of power and then the actual transfer of power will take place.
Q. 8: It is believed in certain quarters that the President's efforts for a settlement with Sheikh, Mujibur Rahman were designed as a ruse to gain time for the transportation of men and material from West Pakistan for deployment in East Pakistan for the eventual takeover of the Province by the Army. How far is this belief justified?
Answer: The belief is completely unjustified unless one regards the first ever general elections in the country as an elaborate ruse lasting more than a year; unless one regards the replacement of parity by one-man-one vote a ruse too; and speed-up in the recruitment of East Pakistan in the Army as yet another ruse.
Q. 9: The President in his broadcast of 26th March said that his talks with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman showed some progress and that he (President)' in his anxiety for a peaceful transfer of power was prepared to agree in principle, despite some serious flaws in it, to Sheikh Mujib's proposal for lifting the Martial Law through a proclamation provided all other political parties agreed to it. How could the proposal to which the President agreed in principle be termed as aiming at disintegration?
Answer: There was no talk of a confederation in the early stages. Nor was there any talk of two formal “constitution at conventions".
Despite some serious flaws in the scheme in its legal as well as other aspects, the President was prepared to agree in principle to this plan in the interest of peaceful transfer of power but on one condition. The condition clearly explained to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was that the President must have prior and unequivocal agreement of all the political parties.
Accordingly the proposal was discussed with other political 1P-ders. They were unanimous in their view that the proposed proclamation by the President would have no legal sanction. It would neither have the cover of Martial Law nor could it claim to be based on the will of the people. Thus a vacuum would be created and chaotic condition
