1971-09-29
Page: 4
KARACHI, Pakistan, Sept. 28—The Government of Pakistan said today that the secret military trial of Sheik Mujibur Rahman, the Bengali leader, was continuing, and warned against public speculation about its outcome.
The warning, issued by the office of Pakistan's President, Gen. Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan, was clearly directed against Pakistani newspapers, which during the last two weeks have published extensive and apparently well‐based speculation about the trial. They have predicted that Shiek Mujib might be paroled soon to visit his ailing parents in East Pakistan, and that the trial would end soon.
Sheik Mujib is charged with “waging war against Pakistan” and other unspecified crimes. The Government announcement said that the prosecution had examined 20 witnesses, but nothing was said about defense cross‐examination. Sheik Mujib, the leader of the outlawed Awami League, was arrested when the Pakistani army moved to put down the autonomy drive in East Pakistan last March.