Parliamentary form of Government and social justice in economic dispensation. To win the votes, the Awami League had to reassure the electorate that it wanted autonomy within the framework of a single Pakistan and that the Six points were negotiable. There, was consensus even on the desirability of the federating units enjoying the maximum possible measure of autonomy consistent with a strong Pakistan. The difference of opinion was over determination of the exact quantum of autonomy that the units can have without jeopardizing the viability of the Centre. This was under negotiation, and to facilitate the negotiation, the President ordered a short postponement in the National Assembly session, which the Awami League extremists seized upon to launch their secessionist holocaust. The people of East Pakistan had not bargained for this, and they are just beginning to emerge from the shock they suffered by the Awami League bid to deliver them back into Hindu-India slavery.
The people of West Pakistan too have been shaken by what has happened in East Pakistan, inducing greater understanding of the problem peculiar to their brethren in the Eastern Wing.
These two factors between them have set off fresh thinking and psychological processes that are likely to lead to reconciliation in the near future. These will be facilitated no doubt by the President's determination to transfer power as early as possible.
There is no basis for the view that Pakistan is faced today with an economic catastrophe. No doubt Pakistan is having some difficulties, but so are a number of other developing countries. Against this we can set off the very solid progress we have so far made in the economic field and we are confident that we shall soon be able to overcome the temporary setback to our economy. With the restoration of law and order in East Pakistan life is returning to normal and resumption of economic activity is well under way.
Q. 57: What are the plans for meeting the financial cost of the damage caused by the present upheaval in East Pakistan? Will an appeal be made to the international community to specifically earmark aid for this purpose?
Answer: Pakistan's first demand logically must be on her own people but consistent with the country's national sovereignty, any assistance without strings will be gratefully accepted.
Q. 58: The Indian Prime Minister has said that unless Pakistan stops the ever swelling influx of refugees from East Pakistan into India straining her economy to breaking point, she would be prepared to fight it out. Is Pakistan willing to take back her own citizens both on humanitarian grounds and to stave off war with India?
Answer: India has seen that we are never cowed down by threats. She has tried aggression several times and each time she was beaten back. So it is not in the context of Indian threats that we have announced our policy in respect of the return of those who left their homes due to disturbed conditions in East Pakistan. The President has declared in
