Background: In a mass rally in Karachi, President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto announced the unconditional release of East Pakistani leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who has been imprisoned and then under house arrest in West Pakistan since last March. The newly-installed President also told the crowd of some 100,000 people on Monday (3 January) that he would be prepared to go to Delhi and talk to Mrs. Gandhi if India responded.

SYNOPSIS: A crowd of some 100,000 supporters of Pakistan's newly-installed President waited on Monday in a Karachi park. President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was going to speak to them in a mass rally in the Pakistani capital.

Many people had learned of the President act of taking over 20 companies by the government. Interest in what he was going to say was increased by the news. Among those at the rally was the Pakistani Vice-President. Many representatives of Mr. Bhutto's government attended the rally.

One of the first things Mr. Bhutto announced was that he's intending to release Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the East Pakistani popular leader. He said there were no conditions connected with the release and Sheikh Mujib could go where he liked and do whatever he thought right. When asked, the crowd cheered wildly if they felt Sheikh Mujib should go free.

Sheikh Mujib, now under house arrest, had been in prison in West Pakistan since last March. It's reported Mr. Bhutto wants additional talks before he's finally released. The two leaders met for the first time in nine months last week.

Mr. Bhutto also told the crowd that he's prepared to go to Delhi for talks with Mrs. Gandhi if India responds. But he added that his offer of talks shouldn't be taken as a sign of weakness Mr. Bhutto said that Pakistan wouldn't be cowed by threats of force by Indian leaders and generals.