ASGHAR'S PLAINT AGAINST PRESS

 

Air Marshal (Retd.) Asghar Khan yesterday (October 11) announced that his party-Tehrik-i-Istiqlal would not participate in the East Pakistan by-elections due to, what he alleged, prohibition of the publication of news and " my consequent inability to reach the people "....

 

Addressing a Press conference here (Karachi) he charged a " bunch of the discredited, rejected elements " with having " reduced me and my party to such a position " that it was not possible to contest the by-elections.

 

The retired Air Marshal, who has returned from Dacca after a 12-day visit, referred to the Press conference he had addressed there on October 6 at which he issued a statement announcing the Tehrik's decision to take part in the by-elections in East Pakistan. But, he said, not a word of his Press Conference was published in the Press.

 

He expressed disappointment that he and his party should be prevented in this manner from " playing our legitimate role for the restoration of democracy and the end of political and economic exploitation ".

 

The Tehrik-i-Istiqlal Chief dubbed some of the East Pakistan Ministers as " unknown and obscure persons who represent no body but themselves " and talked of attempts on their part to " allot seats among themselves and to rig the by-elections ".

 

He said he was against the East Pakistan Ministers continuing in office during the elections and urged that they should be asked to quit so that the by-elections are held in a fair and free manner. " It is a question of principle ", he explained....

 

In a voice charged with emotion, the retired Air Marshal said: " There is no freedom of the Press in the country; I say this with full sense of responsibility." He added there may be nothing like Press taboos on paper but the fact remained that not a word was being published about the political activity....

 

 

(THE DAWN, Karachi-October 12, 1971)

 

 

 

Source:  Bangladesh Documents, vol – II, p. 56-57