RAWALPINDI: India is reported to have spurned Pakistan’s proposal for establishment of a good offices committee consisting of members of the United Nations Security Council to visit Pakistan and India to defuse the threatening situation.

The proposal had been made by Pakistan in a letter to this month’s President of the Security Council, Ambassador Vinci of Italy, on Aug 11, in the hope that the Council members will devise suitable means to avert a manifest danger to peace.

A few days earlier in a Note to UN Secretary-General U Thant Pakistan had called for a constructive dialogue with India to facilitate the repatriation of East Pakistan refugees. …— Newspaper’s staff correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies in Dacca,] The Government of East Pakistan has assured full protection to MNAs-elect and MPAs-elect of the outlawed Awami League who have been allowed to retain their seats in the Assemblies in their individual capacity.

A spokesman of the Provincial Government said here … that these Members of National and Provincial Assemblies, as elected representatives of their constituencies should not hesitate to come forward and assume the responsibilities that they owe to their electorate in the difficult times that the nation is facing. …

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2021