ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s visit to the Soviet Union, which was due to take place in the first half of the current month, has been postponed till the latter half of October, it was officially announced today [July 5]. The announcement, made simultaneously from Islamabad and Moscow, said that the Prime Minister could not undertake the trip at this time when an important national issue had come up before Pakistan’s National Assembly.

[Meanwhile, Mr Bhutto] has expressed his profound sorrow at the passing away of Al-Haj Syed Mohammad Amin Al-Husseini, Grand Mufti of Palestine. … In a condolence message he paid tributes to the late Grand Mufti for his eminent services to Islam and his solid support to the cause of Pakistan. … “ … The people of Pakistan have always cherished deep affection and esteem for the late Grand Mufti. … [He] was not only a great Palestinian leader, who championed the cause of the liberation of Palestine … he was a great Islamic revolutionary leader for whom service to Islam was the passion of his life. We convey to the members of the bereaved family our deep sense of shock and our heartfelt condolences. …”

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2024