বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড)/১৭
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
| নিরাপত্তা আইনে সোহরাওয়াদী গ্রেফতার |
পাকিস্তান অবজারভার | ৩১ জানুয়ারী, ১৯৬২ |
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Hossain Shahid Suhrawardy, 69 was arrested and detained in the Karachi Central Jail this morning under the Security of Pakistan Act. The order of internment was served by the Karachi D. I. G. of Police Mr. Bashir Ahmed at 7. a. m.
The order said that “with a view to preventing from acting in the manner prejudicial to the security and defense of Pakistan” it was necessary to detain him and order his internment in any jail in West Pakistan.
This is for the first time in his life that Mr. Suhrawardy has been arrested for under Security Act or any other law.
Mr. Suhrawardy recently returned from a one month's tour of East and West Pakistan. He has, according to press reports, met friends and political associates during the tour.
The former Prime Minister was still in his bed when the order was served on him. He was reading a book till 2 a. m. His daughter Begum Sulaiman and his Secretary reached Mr. Suhrawardy's residence a little after the police party. Mr. Suhrawardy was calm and composed and did not ask any questions to the police when the detention order was served.
The police gave him all the time needed for dressing up any having his break-fast before he was removed to the Central Jail in the D. 1. G's car. He carried with him a record player, long playing records and two suitcases. He has been given “A” class in jail and his record player has been properly installed in the jail room.
According to reports here he had one or two meetings with Mian Mumtaz Daulatana. Mr. Suhrawardy had sent out invitations to a number of persons for a farewell party in honor of the retiring American Ambassador, William Rountree on February 3. The party has been cancelled and intimations are being sent out.
He was taken from his house in 7-55 a. m. Before he left he took leave of his daughter Sulaiman, his elder brother Mr. Shahed Suhrawardy, his grand daughter and his Secretary.
One of his several friends who came to visit him this morning on being told he was arrested was heard saying, so there would be no case today. He was apparently referring to some law suit in which Mr. Suhrawardy was appearing as counsel. Mr. Suhrawardy had visited Dacca recently in connection with the case of former colleague Sk. Mujibur Rahman.
He returned here last Sunday and attended a party for Mr. Rountree, the outgoing American Ambassador. Mr. Suhrawardy who is the founder of the new defunct Awami League was tried under the EBDO by the present government. Ile has debarred under the EBDO rules from holding any office for a period of six years (Excerpt).
Government explains arrest.
The Government of Pakistan has been compelled to effect the arrest and detention of Mr. H. S- Suhrawardy under the Security of Pakistan Act, in the larger interest of the country says a press note issued by the Government of Pakistan.
It is already well known that Mr. Suhrawardy ever since the inception of Pakistan had been for reasons of personal aggrandizement, indulging in activities which were of a highly prejudicial nature and it would not be unfair to say in a large measure he along with several others was responsible for the predicament in which Pakistan found itself in the later half of 1958.
The role played by Mr. Suhrawardy and the people of his like brought the country to the brink of a major disaster led to the revolution. With the commemoration of the revolution the root that had set in was stemmed. Not only was it stemmed but positive gains were achieved in the last three years and more.
Throughout this period it had been the avowed policy of the government not to victimize or punish anyone for his past misdeeds even though they bordered on the criminal and it was for this reason that even the politicians whose conduct had been scrutinized by the EBDO Tribunals were treated generously. Mr. Suhrawardy was one of such persons.
But Mr. Suhrawardy misunderstanding this generosity and as his ambitions knew no bounds he continued to indulge in activities prejudicial to the integrity and the safety of Pakistan. It is a sad thought that a man of his intelligence and experience instead of saving the country in the manner of a good patriot has taken it upon himself to play a destructive role even after the revolution. Mr. Suhrawardy has openly associated with anti-Pakistan elements within and outside the country.
It was in these circumstances that the government, has been reluctantly compelled to order the detention of Mr. Suhrawardy whose activities in the recent past has been fraught with such danger to the security and safety of Pakistan that one could fairly describe them as reasonable.