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Jan 1 Political activities resume; weapons
not permitted at political gatherings Jan 29 China gifts 81-foot chandelier, to be
installed at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam in Karachi Apr 28 Super Highway between Karachi and Hyderabad inaugurated by Persident Yahya Khan Jul 1 One-Unit dissolved; provinces of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and NWFP restored; Karachi part of Sindh Dec 1 United Arts releases Yousuf Khan Sher Bano, first Pushto film; starring Badar Munir, Yasmeen Khan, Mah para, Saqi; produced by Nazeer Husain; directed by Tasneem Dec 1 Maa Te Maa, first Pakistani Gujrati film; released by Asian Movies, starring Shaista Qaiser, Agha Sajjad, Saira Bano; music by Lal Muhammad-Iqbal; prduced by Qadeer Khan; directed by Iqbal Akhtar Dec 7 National Assembly elections
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Legal Framework Order March 28. Legal Framework Order been issued by the Martial Law regime, outlining election procedures as well as considerations for future government and constitution. The country's name Islamic Republic of Pakistan has been restored while One-Unit is to be dissolved from July 1 to restore five provinces. The National Assembly will consist of 319 seats: 169 from East wing, 144 from West Pakistan and 13 reserved seats for women. Cyclones put off elections Devastating cyclones hit East Pakistan, throwing into disarray plans for elections scheduled for October this year. New dates for the elections have been announced: December 7 for the National Assembly and December 17 for the provincial assemblies.
East is East, West is West... An unusual pattern is emerging in the current election campaign: a rift between the people of East and West Pakistan, and politicians on either side have been highlighting entirely separate issues. While the western wing seems to be tantalised by Bhutto's promises to put an end to capitalist exploitation, in the east wing Mujib attacks West Pakistan as the capitalist exploiter. Interestingly, neither of the two leaders enjoys much support beyond his own part of the country. Meanwhile, there are also those who are contesting elections in the name of religion. Hardline religious parties claiming that "Islam is in danger" view both Bhutto and Mujib as agents and purveyors of anti-Islamic ideas. How green will be the valley? The merger of the princely states into Pakistan last year has begun to reveal at least one disastrous impact that will probably go unnoticed for a long time: the process of deforestation is set on move in such states as Dir, Chitral and Swat. The forests formerly belonged to the princes. They are now owned by the state and managed through a system of government-employed forest guards, who are usually from outside the area and insensitive to local needs. The forests are no more a support to the local economy: they serve as a means of generating revenue for a government who finds it wasteful to invest in forests that demand more in conservation than they are likely to yield in harvest. For the trees in the densely forested former princely states of Pakistan, the future does not appear very green. National Assembly to meet March 3 next year to frame constitution. |
Herald January. The Pakistan Illustrated is relaunched
as the Herald. Volume 1, Number 1. Price Re 1 (West Pakistan),
Re 1.25 (East Pakistan) Wildlife Fund Pakistan Wildlife Appeal, a voluntary organization who has recently changed its name to World Wildlife Fund - Pakistan (WWF-P) following affiliation with the international parent body is perhaps the first green non-government organization in Pakistan. Mystery surrounds poet’s death October 12. Popular poet Mustafa Zaidi was found dead in his Muhammad Ali Society (Karachi) apartment together with an unconscious woman, Shehnaz. The two were apparently on intimate terms and the popular theory is that they had both attempted suicide by ingesting poison. Investigators say they will know more once the medical team completes the examination of Shahnaz's stomach contents. Girlfriend charged with murder Shehnaz is under arrest for the murder of poet Mustafa Zaidi. She is also implicated in a smuggling scandal, and accused of conducting affairs with several high ranking officials and industrial magnets, in order to carry out espionage for foreign agencies.
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Teenage
singer Runa Laila: heart-throb of the urban masses...