Following countrywide hartal, procession and upsurge of the people of East Pakistan the President Field Marshal Ayub Khan had to step down and to hand over power lo Mr. Yuhya Khan through proclamation of martial law in the country. The Government felt lo realize that there was no alternative of democracy to run the country and to introduce the political system with one man-one vote.
Promulgation of the legal provisions for dissolution of one unit of West Pakistan and other legal provisions for the conduct of general elections:
The President and Chief Martial Law Administrator in his address to the nation on the 28th November, 1969, declared (that a legal frame work order for elections to the National and Provincial Assemblies and delimitation of constituencies for the purpose for such elections would be given by the 31st March, 1970; and that the province of West Pakistan would he dissolved and in its place new provinces would come into being; and for the purpose of making provisions in the said legal framework for elections to the National and Provincial Assemblies and delimitation of Constituencies for such elections, the president and Chief Martial Law Administrator, in pursuance. of the Proclamation of the 25th day of March. 1969, was pleased to make and promulgate the Province of West Pakistan (Dissolution) Order. 1970. The Order was published in die Pakistan Gazette. Extraordinary on March 30. 1970 and also Legal Framework Order. 1970 for the purpose of General Elections to a National Assembly of Pakistan commence on the 5th October, 1970 and for elections to the Provincial Assemblies to commence not later than the 22nd November, 1970 and for me constitution of a national Assembly for the purpose of making a Constitution.
For the conduct of elections to the National Assembly the Provincial Assemblies the Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs published an Ordinance No. XIII of 1970 on July 9, 1970) published in the Gazette of Pakistan. Extraordinary dated July 10, 1970.
Ultimately the result of the general elections is such the Awami League under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won 162 seats of the National Assembly out of 167 local seats allotted seats for East Pakistan and the second majority party i.e. the Peoples Party under the leadership of Mr. Zulfiquer Ali Bhurto won 88 seats.
Bhutto's retort, threat and pleas after pleas of military junta for delay in transfer of power.
From the above results it may be seen that the political party Awami League won majority of scats. The National Assembly was summoned. But Mr. Bhutto's retort was that he would not allow him to become hostage on two fronts. He predicted that it' any West Pakistani Member of Parliament were to come to Dhaka, the Assembly would be turned into a slaughterhouse.
Mr. Bhutto added that if any were to participate in such a session countrywide agitation would be launched from Peshawar to Karachi and that every business would be shut down in protest Thereafter the rulets of the West Pakistan Wing made pleas after pleas and delayed transfer of power to the majority party headed by Sheikh Muzibur Rahman
Historical speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 7, 1971.
the following historical speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Father of the nation on March 7, 1971 will explain the activities, incidences and attitudes of the rulers of the west Pakistan Wing:
"My brothers........I have come before you today with a heavy heart....
All of you know how hard we have tried but, Sad 10 say, the streets of Dhaka, Chitiagong, Khulna. Rangpur and Jessore are spattered this day with the blood of my brothers - and the cry we hoar from the Bengali people is a cry for freedom, a cry for Survival, cry for our rights.
You are the ones who brought about an Awami League victory so you could see a constitutional government restored. The hope was that the elected representatives of the people, sitting in the National Assembly, would create a constitution that would assure the people of their economic, political and cultural emancipation.
But now, with great sadness in my heart, I look back on (he past 23 years of our history and see nothing but a history of the shedding of the blood of the Bengali people. Ours has been a history of continual lamentation, repealed blood shed and incessant tears.
We gave our blood in 1953; we won a mandate in 1954-but we were still not allowed to take up the reigns of this country. In 1958. Ayub Khan clamped Martial Law on our people and enslaved us for the next 10 years. In 1966, during the Six-Point Movement of the masses, many were the young men and women whose lives were stilled by government bullets.
After the downfall of Ayub, Mr. Yahya Khan took over with the promise that he would restore constitutional rule, that he would restore democracy and return power to the people.
We accepted that. But yon all know the events that look place after that...
I ask you. Are we the ones to blame?
As you know. I have been in contact with Mr. Yuhya Khan. As leader of the majority party in the National assembly, 1 asked him 10 sets February 15 as the day for its opening session. He did not accede to the request I made as leader of the majority party. Instead, he went along with the delay requested by the minority leader Mr. Bhutto and announced thal the Assembly would be convened on the 3rd March.
We accepted that, agreed to join the deliberations. I even went to the extent of saying that we, despite our majority, would still listen to any sound ideas from the minority, even if it was a lone voice. I committed myself to the support of anything to bolster the restoration of a constitutional framework.
When Mr. Bhutto came to Dhaka, we met. We talked. He left, saying that the doors to negotiation were still open. Moulana Noorani and Moulana Mufti were among those were among those West Pakistani parliamentarians who visited Dhaka and talked with me about an agreement on a constitutional framework.
I made it clear that I could not agree to any deviation from the Sill Points: That night rested with the people. Come, 1 said, let us sit down and resolve matters.
But Bhutto's retort was that he would not allow him to become hostage on two fronts. He predicted that if any West Pakistani members of Parliament were to come to Dhaka, the Assembly would be tamed into a slaughterhouse. He added that if any were to participate in such a session, countrywide agitation would he launched from Peshawar to Karachi and that every business would be shut down in protest.
I assured him that the Assembly would be convened and, despite the dire threats. West Pakistani leaders did come down to Dhaka. But suddenly, on March 1, the session was cancelled. There was an immediate outcry against this move by the people. I called for a hartal as a peaceful form of protest and the masses readily look to the streets in response.
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