political crisis. The above leaders of West Pakistan as well as the Karachi Bar Association and the citizens of Karachi in different statements and meetings warned that Bhutto should not be allowed to disintegrate the country and suggested that powers should be transferred to the majority party, namely Sheikh Mujib's Awami League, to save the situation and the country.
The whole of East Bengal stood like one man behind Sheikh Mujib and his Awami Leaguc. Spontaneous support also came from Bengali leaders of other political parties, such as, Mr. Nurul Amin, Chief of Pakistan Democratic Party; Prof. Ghulam Azam, Chief of East Pakistan Jamaat-i-Islami. Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Chief of NAP (Bhashani Group); Mr. Ataur Rahman Khan, Chief of Pakistan National League; Mr. A. S. M. Sulaiman, Chief of Krishak Sramik Party; Mr. Shamsul Huda, President of East Pakistan Convention Muslim League; Mr. A. N. M. Yousuf, General Secretary of East Pakistan Convention Muslim League and so on.
The whole of East Pakistan responded to Sheikh Mujib's call for non-cooperation. Even the Chief Justice and all the judges of the Dacca High Court responded to this call. On March 15, Sheikh Mujib issued a set of 35 directives to the East Pakistanis for smooth administration of the province and maintenance of perfect law and order. Within hours of this declaration. Yahya Khan flew to Dacca and on March 16 talks between the two started. At a later stage Bhutto and other West Pakistani leaders joined the talks.
Talks between Yahya Khan and Sheikh Mujib and other advisers continued for about ten days. At no stage was there any indication of breakdown of talks. On the contrary, it was indicated that an agreement had been reached on four points. These were: lifting of martial law and transfer of power to a civilian government by a Presidential Proclamation, transfer of power in the Provinces to the majority partics; Yahya Khan to remain as President and in control of the Central Government and separate sittings of the National Assembly members from East and West Pakistan preparatory to a joint session of the House to finalize the Constitution. Once this agreement in principle had been reached between Mujib and Yahya, there was only the question of defining the powers of Last Pakistan vis-a-vis the Centre during the interim phase.
But suddenly on the night of March 25-26, Yahya dashed out of Dacca under cover of darkness. Simultaneously the Pakistan army went into action to re-assert its authority throughout the eastern wing. Back in West Pakistan, Yahya broadcast a message to the nation banning the Awami League and charging Mujib with treason. And on March 26, Sheikh Mujib proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh as a Sovereign Peoples Republic. Formation of a provisional government of Bangladesh was announced two days later and on. April 17, the People's Republic of Bangladesh was formally proclaimed.
This proves beyond doubt that Yahya Khan and his team never had the slightest intention of solving Pakistan's political crisis peacefully. They were only interested in
