1971-12-27
By Malcolm W. Browne
Page: 5
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Dec. 26—Pakistan's new leaders enjoined their people today from looking for scapegoats for the recent military defeat by India, and indicated that no speedy action would be taken against the former ruling generals.
Two days ago, the Government announced appointment of a judicial commission to study the causes of the “military debacle” in East Pakistan and the cease‐fire in West Pakistan.
“Although he was not mentioned by name, the obvious primary target of the inquiry is Pakistan's former President, Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan.
Today it was announced that the commission would have three months to prepare a report indicating why the Pakistani commander in the East surrendered to Indian troops and why President Yahya Khan accepted India's ceasefire offer in the West.
Presumably, the former President and his colleagues are immune from punishment or trial during the inquiry, which will be held in secret.
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Clearly speaking for President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, J. A. Rahim, Minister for Presidential Affairs, issued a statement today that blamed the former rulers but asked the people to forget the past.
The Pakistani people have been consistently deceived by their leaders, Mr. Rahim said, by “a small and selfish junta of individuals.” But he added:
“This is a time for soul-searching, not for recrimination, not for the negative approach, not for destructive sentiment.”
In another development, Pakistan announced that “in spite of the Government's strong aversion to arresting or placing anyone under house arrest,” five former high officials were being held.
Later the Government withdrew the announcement without explanation and issued a new one saying that only one official, the former chairman of the National Press, Trust, was under house arrest.