New

1970-12-10

BackHome

EAST PAKISTANIS GAIN A MAJORITY

By Reuters

Page: 11

Hail Assembly Election as a Victory for Autonomy

KARACHI, Pakistan, Dec. 9 (Reuters) — The Awami League, led by Sheik Mujibur Rahman, today won three more seats in Pakistan's first general elections — attaining a majority in the new National Assembly.

The sheik hailed the victory as a clear verdict for his party's policy of full regional autonomy for East Pakistan, where the league is based.

The Pakistani radio said that the Awami League now had 151 seats in the 300‐member Assembly, which has the task of drawing up a constitution within 120 days of its first meeting.

The other big winner in the elections Monday was the West Pakistan‐based leftist People's party, headed by the former Foreign Minister, Zulfikar All Bhutto. It won 81 seats.

In 289 results announced so far, no other party had won any major victories. The Quayyum Moslem League appeared to be the largest of the minor parties, with nine seats.

Sheik Issues Statement



Sheik Mujib issued a statement saying that a constitution’ bringing full regional autonomy on the basis of his party's six point program, which leaves only defense and foreign affairs with the central Government, “has to he framed and implemented in all its aspects.”

While his statement affirmed the Awami League's strong stand on regional autonomy, it gave no clues about how far he was prepared to compromise to meet expected opposition from West Pakistan.

But the sheik did give a cautious welcome to the success of Mr. Bhutto's party in West Pakistan, calling it “the first signs of mass awakening.” Diplomatic observers say that Pakistan's future now depends on Sheik Mujib and Mr. Bhutto reaching agreement on a constitution.

Whatever constitution the Assembly produces, it still must go to President Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan for ratification. The President has stipulated that the Constitution must not be one that pulls the two regions farther apart of else he will continue martial law.