LAHORE: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto today [Nov 2] said that his current tour of the Punjab is for mass contact, and he will try to meet as many people as possible — people of all shades of opinion. Talking to newsmen at the Minar-i-Pakistan ground … he said his tour of the Province had been delayed by about three years … but there were reasons for it. He maintained that he had to tackle problems in other parts of the country — he had to deal with insurgency in Baluchistan, with foreign interference at a massive scale in NWFP, and some of it even in Sind. …

Mr Bhutto dispelled the impression that he had neglected the Punjab. Apart from the fact that Punjab had all along been in his heart, how could he ignore the most populous and important province? ... The Prime Minister said he had nothing but affection … for all the provinces as they were all parts of Pakistan, every corner of which was equally dear to him. “I see them all with the same eye,” he added. Referring to the colourful reception accorded to him in the historic Minar-i-Pakistan gardens … the Prime Minister … said he was overwhelmed … by the warm and kind hospitality.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024