NEW DELHI: More than 100 people are reported to have died from the effects of a heatwave which has gripped northern and eastern India in the past two weeks. Some Press reports put the death toll at over 140 although official statistics are not available. … The highest recorded temperature yesterday [May 17] was 47 degrees Centigrade at Banda in Utter Pradesh. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by a staff correspondent from Quetta,] President Bhutto has said that democracy and the Constitution could only function successfully if the economic condition of the people was improved and a just social order is established in the country. He was addressing a huge gathering assembled at Quetta civil airport to accord him a tumultuous welcome… . President Bhutto said that an era of equality would be ushered into Pakistan when the country’s economy was placed on a sound and viable footing, so that people in all earnestness were enabled to fight poverty, ignorance and disease and live a happy life. After the ushering in of this era of equality, he pointed out, democracy would be able to flourish… .

… The President recalled that during his last visit to Quetta four months ago he had promised in a public address that Martial Law would be lifted and people’s democracy would be restored. This promise, he added, had been fulfilled. …

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2022