Karachi, March 19.—At least 20 people were reported to have been killed today when the Pakistan Army opened fire on civilians near Jovdapur, 25 miles north-east of Dacca.

Shaikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of East Pakistan, tonight condemned the Army's action as "a provocation". He said that as a result of it, he might not now meet President Yahya Khan as had been agreed during their resumed talks in Dacca earlier today.

According to official sources, the troops first used their arms when a shot was fired at them as they were trying to make their way through an obstructing crowd. The soldiers fired a second time in another incident, details of which were not given.

The Shaikh said that he had not been able to confirm the number of deaths because a curfew was imposed in the town after the incidents and it was difficult to pick up the wounded.

Shaikh Mujibur has already claimed that 300 civilians died in clashes with the Army at the beginning of this month. He accused the Army of behaving like an occupation force.— Agence France Presse.



Peter Hazelhurst writes from Karachi: At their 90-minute talk today, Shaikh Mujibur and President Yahya seemed to have softened their rigid attitudes on the present constitutional crisis in the country.

It was announced that three of the Shaikh's advisers, Dr. Kamal Hussain, Mr. Tajuddin Ahmad and Mr. Syed Nazrul Islam, would hold discussions tonight with the President's aides.

The Shaikh, who was speaking before hearing of the shootings at Jovdepur. said that when he met the President again tomorrow, he would have with him six of his Awami League supporters.

In Karachi last night, Mr. Z. A. Bhutto, the West Pakistan leader who has refused to join in the Dacca talks between the President and the Shaikh, gave a warning that his People's Party would launch a civil disobedience campaign similar to the one now disrupting life in the eastern wing “if West Pakistan's interests are compromised in Dacca".

Sources close to President Yahya today revealed that three proposals by the President have provided the basis for his discussions with Shaikh Mujibur. It would appear, however, that none of the proposals would be acceptable to either the eastern or western wing.

Under the first proposal, power would be restored to provincial governments of both wings while the Army would continue to administer the country's central affairs until a constitution could be framed. The Shaikh would be unlikely to accept any interim constitution which did not make provision for East Pakistan's six point programme for ultimate autonomy.

As an alternative to this proposal, President Yahya has asked the leaders of both wings to form an interim government at the centre under the auspices of the martial law administration until a constitution is framed by the National Assembly.

In his third proposal, the President has asked the two leaders to form an interim government and if they do so, he has indicated that he would be willing to restore power to the provinces immediately.

The Shaikh has indicated that he would accept the proposal only after the President conceded other preconditions. but in any event the Shaikh is adamant that he will request an interim government with the support of the minority parties in the western wing who support his party's policies.

In other words, there would be no place for Mr. Bhutto and his People's Party (which holds 84 of the 313 seats in the Assembly) in such a coalition and the impulsive western leader would find himself in the Opposition. The Shaikh would then form the interim government with the support of regional parties from the North - West Frontier, Baluchistan and the Sind. Such an alliance would tend to isolate Mr. Bhutto and his stronghold, the Punjab.