Document 075
Department of State TELEGRAM
PAGE 0 1 RAWALP 07184 101322Z
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ACTION NEA-08
R 101125Z SEP 70
FM AMEMBASSY RAWALPINDI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5059
INFO AMCONSUL DACCA
AMCONSUL KARACHI
AMCONSUL LAHORE
RAWALPINDI 7184
LIMDIS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT YAHYA ON PAKISTAN POLITICAL SITUATION
REF: KARACHI 1692
1. DURING AMBASSADOR'S CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT YAHYA HERE SEPTEMBER 8, YAHYA SAID HE HAD BEEN GREATLY UPSET BY NEED FOR HIS DECISION TO POSTPONE GENERAL ELECTIONS FROM OCTOBER 5 UNTIL DECEMBER 7. HE SAID A NUMBER OF FACTORS HAD LED TO HIS DECISION. HE MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY THE INABILITY OF EXISTING BUREAUCRATIC MACHINERY TO COPE SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH FLOOD RELIEF REQUIREMENTS AND ELECTION PREPARATIONS IN EAST PAKISTAN. YAHYA NOTED THAT PAKS WERE COMPLETELY OUT OF PRACTICE ON ELECTION PROCEDURES.
2. YAHYA SAID HE HOPED NO ONE WOULD GET IDEA HE WAS WAIVERNG IN ANY WAY IN HIS DETERMINATION TO RESTORE CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT AND GET BACK TO BARRACKS.
3. YAHYA WENT ON TO VOICE DISAPPOINTMENT OVER COURSE OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGN TO DATE. HE SAID HE WAS APPALLED AT LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE POLITICIANS, MANY OF WHOM WERE ACTING LIKE SPOILED KIDS. HE HAD FAILED SEE EMERGENCE OF ANY STATESMAN-LIKE LEADERSHIP. WHEN HE BECAME DISCOURAGED, YAHYA SAID, HE HAD TO REMIND HIMSELF THERE HAD BEEN NO DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN AND THE POLITICIANS HAD LITTLE CONCEPTION OF RULES AND REQUIREMENTS.
Department of State
TELEGRAM
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