The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 162
146 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN Thus he got the date advanced to the middle of August, and the process of partition was speeded up accordingly. The announcement of Prime Minister Attlee, of the 3rd of June, set out the final stages and the method of partition. On that I made up my mind to resign my seat on the bench and sent in my resignation to take effect on 10th of June. His late Highness the Nawab of Bhopal, who was a very good friend of mine and whom I had held in very great esteem and affection, suggested that for a year or two, depending upon how quickly matters would proceed, I should go to Bhopal and take on the duties of his Constitutional Adviser, to suggest ways and means how his interests as the ruler of Bhopal, and the interests of the Ruling Chiefs generally, might be safeguarded under the new constitution. I readily agreed, and went on to Bhopal within a few days of resigning my seat on the bench. By that time, widespread disorders had started and the situation, even in New Delhi, which was the capital, was becoming pretty desperate for the Muslims. I was soon sent for by Mr. Jinnah, who suggested that when the Boundary Commission was set up, to delimit the boundary between West Pakistan and India - at that time, between West Punjab and East Punjab - I should argue the Muslim League case before the Commission. Without hesitation I took on that duty upon myself. In the meantime, His Highness the Nawab of Bhopal had suggested that I should go to England for a fortnight, while the Indian Independence Bill was in discussion before Parliament and see whether anything could be done to get a clearer assurance from His Majesty's Government with regard to the position of the Princes under the new constitution. I went over and was present in the gallery of the House of Commons when Prime Minister Attlee introduced the Bill. I was much struck by the very clear exposition that he gave of the provisions of the Bill, and complimented him later on his speech. He did not indulge in oratory, he was not much of an orator, but he explained the provisions very clearly so that everybody was able to appreciate what was meant. One thing I was surprised by was that he made a grievance in his speech of the fact that Mr. Jinnah had not agreed that Lord Mountbatten should, under the new constitution, become the Governor General both of Pakistan and of India. I could not see how that arrangement could have worked even for a week. There were bound to be - some were