RAWALPINDI: The President and CMLA has ordered that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman be taken out of jail and put under house arrest… . In another important decision the President appointed Mr Mumtaz Ali Bhutto as Governor and Martial Law Administrator for Sind, Mr Ghulam Mustafa Khar as Governor and MLA Punjab, Mr Hayat Mohammad Khan Sherpao as Governor and MLA North West Frontier Province, it was officially announced here tonight [Dec 21]. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by the staff correspondent in Rawalpindi,] The President and Chief Martial Law Administrator Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto today [Dec 21] announced certain important decisions. He ordered immediate withdrawal of cases against students, labourers and peasants pending in military courts. … He has also ordered commutation to transportation for life of all death sentences awarded by ordinary criminal courts which are pending execution.

… It was officially announced that the Central Government has decided … that no citizen of Pakistan excepting members of official delegations and students who are permitted to go abroad for education … would proceed to any destination abroad. Visits of Pakistanis to India are not permissible under any circumstances… .

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2021