TIKKA KHAN SWORN IN
The Martial Law Administrator Lieutenant General Tikka Khan was sworn in as governor of East Pakistan today. Earlier, after his appointment as both the governor and martial law administrator in East Pakistan on March 8, 1971, Tikka Khan could not find a judge to swear him in as Justice BA Siddiqui, chief justice of the East Pakistan High Court, refused to administer the oath for reasons of ill health .
BANGALEES FLEE TOWNS
Bangalees were reported fleeing towns along the Padma river today, fearing an advance by Pakistan army units trying to crush the two week old autonomy movement in the East.
TIKKA KHAN REFUSED THE OATH OF OFFICE
Tikka Khan was handed over responsibilities of both the governor and martial law administrations in East Pakistan. He was also the commander of Eastern Command. However, the all-powerful governor could not find a judge to swear him in as Justice BA Siddiqui, chief justice of the East Pakistan High Court, refused to administer the oath for reasons of ill health .
The martial law officer in Dhaka tried to make alternative arrangements but failed. According to the president s legal parchment, the swearing in ceremony must be administered by the chief justice of the concerned province. His nominee or a local judge of the Supreme Court cannot perform the task. General Tikka himself rang up the chief secretary of East Pakistan, Shafiul Azam, to arrange the ceremony but he also refused. [Siddiq Salik, Witness to Surrender, UPL 1997, pp.55-56]