Constitution should be based on consensus
Taking both the programmes together, he announced his acceptance for 12 of these 17 points-excluding the five which dealt with provincial autonomy on the basis of the Lahore Resolution and a Constitution on the basis of Six-points.
He would not comment on them because “we have got genuine difficulty and we need time for consultation to see how far we can go for a consensus”.
But he described as ideal the point No. 1 of the Six-Points so far as it advocated a genuine federation in a true sense. He said he was a firm believer in one Pakistan and his entire political philosophy was based on it.
The four points of the Awami League on which Mr. Bhutto made no comments pertain to the transfer of Provincial and Central subjects, currencies, foreign trades, federating states and their accounts.
The second point of the students' demands relates to the Six-Point Programme.
National Assembly Session
About the convening of the Constituent Assembly on February 15 as suggested by Sheikh Mujib, the PPP Chief remained non-committal, but said there was nothing wrong “if we take time up to the end of February at least”.
Asked if he intended to suggest delaying the session to the President, he replied in the negative.
“Some essential things will have to be accomplished before we come to attend the session” he said. “We must meet the leaders of all shades of opinion in West Pakistan, including those of defeated parties. The Constitution of a country should be a national one and not of one Province, and as such there should be consensus and equilibrium”.
He said, however, that he fully shared the anxiety of Sheikh Mujib for breaking the present transition which was giving rise to new problems every day. “But for the greater interest of the nation” he added “its solidarity, integrity and fraternity there is nothing wrong in asking this 15 days time to solve the difficult task we have here for a permanent and lasting solution of constitutional problem”.
Mr. Bhutto said that it was not necessary to enter into the Constituent Assembly with an agreement on different issues because negotiations could continue even when the House in Session.
Asked if, in his opinion, the Awami League with its present absolute majority in the House was competent to frame a Constitution, Mr. Bhutto said: “Legally speaking they can, but the question to be decided by the House is whether the Constitution will be adopted by a simple majority or by two-thirds majority. Since the question is of making a Constitution and our geographical position is peculiar, the majority adopting the Constitution should include a consensus.”
