পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড).pdf/৬৬৭

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বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড
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 He, however, added that if an assurance was given even privately that there would be give and take' and there would be a purpose for us to be there to construct something together, then we would go.

 Other leaders of West Pakistan he said, may go if they so desired, but the PPP members would go only if there was room for adjustment, and not to sign a dictated constitution.

 Mr. Bhutto said that on the one hand the Awami League claimed the right to frame the constitution on the democratic principle of simple majority, and on the other it wanted six point because of the geographic peculiarities of the country. He said, it could not have it both ways. If they wanted their six points on the basis of geographical peculiarities, why should this factor not come into play in the framing of the constitution and the principle of the consensus of the federating units applied instead of the principle of simple majority.

 However, he said that if the Awami League insisted on the framing of the constitution on the basis of six points, then the onus and odium of that constitution would not fall on the Pakistan People's Party.

 He said that he did not want to deteriorate the situation but was stating what was objective, scientific and reasonable.

 He said that he took full responsibility for the position he had taken and he would be prepared to face the barrel of a gun, for he had done so often in the past. But he said, he must save the people from the firing line.

 Asked if he was boycotting the Assembly, Mr. Bhutto emphatically disagreed with the suggestion.

 Mr. Bhutto said that he did not want to aggravate the situation. He conceded that in the past some West Pakistani leaders had dictated to East Pakistan, but he had nothing to do with it. What had happened in the past should not mean that this dictation should now be repeated on West Pakistan. West Pakistan had thrown up a new leadership which wanted to end the system of exploitation, not only in West Pakistan but also in East Pakistan, he said. A constitution imposed as a vendetta against Pakistan would not be accepted, he added.

 To another question, Mr. Bhutto said that he would accept in good faith an assurance from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the question of give and take in the framing of the constitution, even if such an assurance was given privately.

 Replying to another question Mr. Bhutto said that he was “satisfied” with his talks with the leaders of the NWFP. Mr. Bhutto met Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan, President of the Pakistan Muslim League, Khan Abdul Wali Khan, President of National Awami Party and Maulana Mufti Mahmud, General Secretary, Jamaita-e-ul-Ulema-eIslam, during his two-day stay here.