will ensue. They also thought that the splitting of the National Assembly into two parts through a proclamation would encourage divisive tendencies which might exist. They, therefore, expressed the opinion that if the intention was to lift Martial Law and transfer to the elected representatives in the interim period, the National Assembly should meet, pass an appropriate interim constitution bill and present it for the President's assent.
The President agreed with their view entirely and asked them to tell Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to take a reasonable attitude on that issue. He also told the leaders to explain their views to him that a scheme whereby on the one hand, you extinguish all sources of power, namely, Martial Law and on the other fail to replace it by the will of the people expressed through an appropriate session of the National Assembly, would merely result in chaos. They agreed to meet the Slriekh, explain the position to him and try to obtain r, his agreement to the interim arrangements for transfer of power to emanate from, the National Assembly.
The political leaders were also very much perturbed over Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's idea of dividing the National Assembly into two part right from the start. Such a move, they felt, would be totally against the interest of Pakistan's integrity. The Chairman of the PakisD-an People's Party during his meeting with the President and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also expressed similar views to the Sheikh. On the evening of 23rd March, the political leaders who had gone to take to the Sheikh on this subject called on the President and informed him that he (Sheikh) was not agreeable to any changes in the scheme. All he wanted was for the President to make a proclamation withdrawing Martial Law and transferring power to him.
Q. 10: Is it true that agreement was reached between. the President and Sheikh Mujibur Rahrnan on the following four points:
(i) Lifting of Martial Law and transfer of power to a civilian Government by a Presidential proclamation.
(ii) Transfer of power in the provinces to majority parties.
(iii) The President to remain as President and in control of the Central Government.
(iv) Separate sittings of the National Assembly members from East and West Pakistan preparatory to joint session of the House to finalize the Constitution.
Answer: The basic point is transfer of power and there has beer. agreement on this from the Government side ever since the President announced his decision to do so. There was thus no question of reaching any fresh agreement with the President: his agreement to transfer power was there when he ordered the elections. What was required was agreement among the parties on the future scheme of things both at the Centre and in the Provinces. There is no validity to a Proclamation that neither has the umbrella of Martial Law nor the endorsement of the National Assembly. Either you have to have Martial Law or a Constitution full-fledged or interim power must flow from either of them.
