RAWALPINDI: The Government ... has taken strong exception to the statement made on behalf of the United Nations Secretary General U Thant on Aug 10 regarding the impending trial of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and has asked its Permanent Representative at the UN to lodge a strong protest... . In the protest Note the Government has stated categorically that it `cannot accept the proposition that any judicial decision on the individual case of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will have any repercussions unless Pakistan`s hostile neighbour India is encouraged to make them so`.

The statement made on behalf of the UN Secretary-General had asserted that `trial of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would inevitably have repercussions outside the borders of Pakistan` and that it was a `matter of extraordinary interest and concern in many quarters`. The Note regrets the statement and points out that it `exceeds both the bounds of humanitarian concern and the competence of the UN, as defined in the UN Charter`.

Newspaper`s staff correspondent [Meanwhile, as reported by the staff correspondent in Karachi,] The three factions of the Muslim League have decided to summon meetings of their respective Councils to get a resolution passed ... to delegate power to their Working Committee or the special committee of selected members with full powers in respect of merger of Leagues... .