Background: Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, leader of the left-wing People's Party in West Pakistan, told a press conference in Karachi on Saturday (20 March) that he had agreed to fly to East Pakistan where President Yahya Khan has been holding vital talks on Pakistan's political crisis with the Awami Loague's Sheik Mujibur Rahman. Mr. Bhutto had been invited to the Dacca talks four days earlier, but had sought "clarifications" concerning the transfer of power from Martial Law back to the parties.

Mr. Bhutto has been insisting on an agreement about constitutional plans before attending the Assembly, and it was the postponement of the Assembly's inaugural session earlier this month that prompted the campaign of civil disobedience now paralysing the eastern wing. He was filmed, after the press conference, talking to his party leaders whom he had called in for consultations.