IMPLICATIONS IN MOSLEM LEAGUE DEFEAT IN EAST PAKISTAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000200190003-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 3, 1998
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: March 18, 1954
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 200 P80R01443R000200190003-8
NSC BRIEFING
18 March 1954
IMPLICATIONS IN MOSLEM LEAGUE
DEFEAT IN EAST PAKISTAN
1. Current Situation.
A. Prime Minister Mohammed Ali's Moslem
League apparently defeated in East
Bengal provincial elections by
landslide.
B. United Democratic Front - mostly
96
assorted leftists - wins of W
seats reported so far out of total
of 237 possible.
C. Eighty-year-old Fazlul Huq will
probably be new chief minister East
Bengal. He has said he would not act
without "cooperation" Karachi govern-
ment. He is
who broke with Moslem League in
summer 1953.
25X6F
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D. Factors in Moslem League's defeat.
1. Unpopularity local Moslem
League leaders.
2. Basic failure Moslem League
government improve economic
situation.
3. Ethnic differences between East
and West Pakistan - East
resentment rule from Karachi.
II. Domestic Repercussions.
A. Moslem League might make post-election
deal with elements of Front -
depending cohesiveness Front, which
now loose federation, no common program;
B. In any case serious blow Mohammed
Ali prestige.
C. Great encouragement provincialism -
will make task central government
much more difficult.
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1. Likely delay formulation new
constitution - in works since 1947.
2. Confuse situation in constituent
assembly in Karachi where East
Bengal has 43 of total 75 seats.
Assembly only representative body
now functioning on a national
level, constitution has not yet
been approved.
D. Possibility Communist influence.
1. total of only 14 25X1X4^
Communists, crypto-Communists
running on Front ticket.
2. Communists, however, likely be
strengthened and encouraged by
victory with which they associated.-
III. Foreign Policy Repercussions.
A. US military aid not issue - but Moslem
League used aid in attempt to build
prestige.
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B. Will be interpreted in India and in.
USSR as popular rejection of aid and
of Turkish-Pakistani pact.
C. May raise doubts Turks,others
stability Pak government.
D. But not likely affect Karachi
attitude toward West.
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