QUETTA: The National Assembly during its coming session on Aug 14 will devote itself to the consideration of recognition or otherwise of Bangladesh. This was stated today [July 27] by the Central Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Maulana Kausar Niazi. He said that the session would not be able to take up consideration of the draft constitution as it was unlikely to be ready in time to be tabled in the House. Maulana Kausar Niazi, who was talking to newsmen at an informal meeting ... said that although Pakistan People’s Party had not yet taken a clear-cut stand on the question of Bangladesh ... “we wish that whatever stand is taken by Pakistan it should be realistic and free from any sentimentalism”.

He said there were two alternatives on this issue. One was whether Pakistan would like to have relations with Muslim Bengal and thus keep it free from foreign influence while the second alternative was to adopt a policy of hate for them and live on wishful thinking that one day it would again become part of this country. Maulana Kausar Niazi said that in case some sort of relationship was established with Muslim Bengal, misunderstanding and misgivings could be removed... .

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2022