বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (প্রথম খণ্ড)/১০৩
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| যুক্ত নির্বাচন প্রথা আইন পাশ | পাকিস্তান অবজারভার | ১২ই অক্টোবর, ১৯৫৬ |
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSES ELECTORATE BILL (48-19)
Unparalleled All-night Marathon Session.
BEST POSSIBLE SOLUTION: PM
(By S.C.)
After a more than 14-hour debate which commenced yesterday morning and concluded in the small hours of to-day the National Assembly passed the Bill providing for joint electorate in East Pakistan and separate electorate in the country’s Western wing. The Electorate Bill was passed at 4 a. m. (East) by 48 votes to 19. But this was not before several divisions had been pressed by the opposition and lost including one by 48 votes to 20.
Animated debate marked the sessions proceedings and other points of interest included defection of one member from the republican party over the electorate issue, declaration of a member of the United Front that he believed in joint electorate regarding which he said his party had given him freedom of conscience and the ending-up speeches of Mr. Suhrawardy, Prime Minister and Mr. Chundrigar, leader of the Muslim League party.
Mr. Suhrawardy’s concluding words while commending the bill for enactment were that it constituted under the circumstances the best possible solution and that it would bring the two wings of Pakistan closer together. This was also the best solution until such time as West Pakistan of its own volition changed its view point.
Earlier, he appealed to the opposition that if they wanted to save the people from bigotry and fanaticism, then they should have the guts to go and tell them that the question of electorate had nothing to do with religion.
Mr. Chundrigar marshalling the case for separate electorate said that he would submit that this system of voting was in the best interest of both Hindus and Muslims.
He also stated that equality of rights for the minorities had already been provided for in the constitution.
As regards the Government Party’s contention that under a system of separate electorates 72 non-Muslims in East Pakistan had held the balance of power, he said that the particular method of voting could not be blamed for this but the Muslims themselves.
Yesterday afternoon Pir Ali Mohammad Rashidi of the Muslim League held out a threat that a movement for separate electorate would be launched to which Mr. Suhrawardy interjecting replied that he would break this by a bigger movement based on annihilation of all suspicion and distrust.
In his vinding up speech, Mr. Suhrawardy said that he would like to join with Mr. Chundrigar in condemning the hooliganism that might have taken place here on October7. He hoped that leaders of all political parties will enjoin that there be no disturbance in political meetings.
Among those who participated in this session's debate also were Dr. Khan Saheb and Mian Iftekharuddin; the West Pakistan Chief Minister said that it was not possible for him, to understand why the issue of the electorates was worrying the members. But as Mian Saheb had told them they were worried because they did not represent the public.
Whether he believed in joint or separate electorate did not matter. The point was that representatives of West Pakistan had supported separate electorate and his party and himself had no right to go back on it without referring the matter to people.
In Pakistan, he said, will had always been imposed from the top and politics directed from drawing rooms. He would request all members of the House in clearing the country of fortune hunters but mere speeches would not do.
Referring to East Pakistan he said that they had voted for joint electorate and had every right to do it and also propagate their viewpoint but they should do it peacefully and violently.