পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (সপ্তম খণ্ড).pdf/১২২

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বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র : সপ্তম খণ্ড
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right spirit in the people and the politicians. The constitution must serve Pakistan as a whole, and not any individual or group. It must allow each province to develop itself along the right lines without detracting, in any way, from the strength of the centre and the integrity of the nation as a whole. I might clarify here that this constitution will come into force with effect from the first session of the National Assembly. Byelections to be held before this will, however, be on the same basis as the general elections already held, namely, the Legal Framework Order of 1970.

 So much for the future constitution of Pakistan. Now to continue with my plan of transfer of power. As I said earlier, by-elections will be held to fill vacant seats in the National well as in the provincial Assemblies. Considering the mood of the people. I feel sure that the campaign for these by-clections will be based on the principles contained in the Legal Framework Order. No one will tolerate propagation of views which tend to militate against the integrity of Pakistan. I also feel that the campaign should be a brief one. After these elections are completed, the National and Provincial Assemblies will be duly summoned and governments will be formed at the national as well as the provincial levels throughout the country. The National Assembly will not have to function as a constituent assembly but will become our central legislature as soon as it is sworn in.

 Since the nation has recently been subjected to a very severe jolt, I have decided that the national and provincial governments will have at their disposal the cover of martial law for a period of time. In actual practice, martial law will not be operative in its present form, but we cannot allow chaos in any part of the country, and the hands of the governments need to be strengthened until things settle down.

 On order to meet the requirement of this new plan, the Legal Iramework Order of 1970 will be duly amended.

The time-frame of the plan

 Let me now say a word about the time-frame of this plan. It is obvious that the plan, in its entirety, cannot be launched immediately because it is important that a reasonable amount of normalcy returns to the country before we think in terms of transferring power. But on the other hand, the launching of the plan must not be delayed unduly. When we speak of normal, the main considerations are restoration of law and order, rehabilitation of the administrative structure which was badly disrupted, and a degree of economic rehabilitation.

 As regards law and order, I am glad to be able to tell you that the army is in full control of the situation in East Pakistan. It-has crushed the mischief mongers, saboteurs, and infiltrators. But it will take some time, before the law and order situation becomes completely normal. The process is in full swing with the active cooperation of the people and their patriotic leaders. The people of Last Pakistan have manifested a great sense, of patriotism and national unity in helping the armed forces to root out miscreants and infiltrators.

 As a result of the non-cooperation movement, the economy of East Pakistan had come to a standstill. Widespread arson loot and, intimidation resorted to by the Awami