THE MECHANICS OF TRANSFERRING POWER IN PAKISTAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01737A002000010034-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 10, 2005
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: December 2, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2005/01/31 : CIA-RDP79B01737A00200001003
SUBJECT:. The Mechanics of Transferring Power in Pakistan
1. On 12 October President.Yahya announced. that,.
following staggered by-elections early this month in
East Pakistan, a constitution would be promulgated on
20 December, the National Assembly would convene on 27
December,and a. civilian government would be formed
almost immediately afterwards. The by-elections were
to be held to fill 78 seats won by the separatist Awami
League in elections a year ago, but later declared va-
cant by. the government...
2.. Reporting on the form of the new government has
been-vague, and it may well be that .Yahya has not made
a final decision. Pakistan presumably will have a par-
liamentary government, but to preserve military in-
fluence ahe President could retain substantial powers.
3. Nurul Amin will probably become prime minister.
He. was one of the two. non-Awami Leaguers elected to. the
National Assembly from East Pakistan a year ago and cur-
rently heads the United Coalition Party (UCP), recently
formed from seven moderate and right-wing parties. When
by-elections are over, the UCP is expected to be Pakis-
tan's largest single party, but it will fall short of
having a majority.
4.. Z. A. Bhutto, head of.th.e Pakistan People's
Party (PPP), is expected to become deputy prime minister
in a coalition government.. His party won the majority of
the West Pakistani seats a year ago, but has won only a
few.seats. in the by-elections in East Pakistan managed
by the army.
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Approved Fora Release 2005/01/31 : CIA-RDP79B0173TA002000010034-2
 Approved For Release 2005/01/31 : CIA-RDP79BO1737AO02000010034-2
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Party East Pakistan West Pakistan Total
Elected Declared Elected Elected
Awami Leagueb 86
PPP 6 87 93
NAPC -- -- 7
Independents 1 -- 13 14
Unfilled Seats 26 -- -- 26
a. The UCP is expected to pick up all the 24 seats yet
to be decided in East Pakistan and some of the Awami
Leaguers who were allowed to keep their seats. By-
elections for two seats--including Mujib's--have not
been scheduled, presumably because Mujib's trial is
still in progress.
b. Less than half these Awami Leaguers are expected to
attend the National Assembly. Some are in India with
the. Bangla Desh government.
c. The National Awami Party has been outlawed, but its
members retain their seats.
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Approved For Release 2005/01/31 : CIA-RDP79BO1737AO02000010034-2
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