KARACHI: The People’s Party chief, Mr. Z.A. Bhutto, called on President Yahya Khan at the President’s House here yesterday morning [Sept 13] and had discussions with him lasting about three hours. The talks, according to the People’s Party spokesman, Mr Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, “progressed satisfactorily”, were inconclusive and will be resumed “in the near future”. Mr Bhutto, according to Mr Pirzada, was not accompanied by any of his advisers….

The PPP spokesman … said: “We would have been able to tell you the details of talks in the next two or three days, but this will not be possible because of the sudden visit abroad of the President.” He declined to answer whether further talks would be held after the President’s return from abroad and also what will be the venue of the next meeting. …

When it was pointed out that it was Mr. Bhutto himself who had stated that the next meeting he was going to have with the President would be the last one, Mr Pirzada explained that the reference was “out of context”. He pointed out that when this term (final round of talks) was used it was “in the context of a particular situation” and in regard to matters which were “of limited nature” and which Mr Bhutto wanted to discuss with the President.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2021