Mujib's Awami League (AL) have won 160 from 162 available seats in East Pakistan. This means they have won 55% of all of the seats available and have an overall majority in Pakistan's National Assembly. Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) have become by far the most powerful party in the West having won 81 of 138 seats available. The major problem is that neither party is a position to negotiate or make compromises. This is a big concern not only for Yahya, but also for the British and the Americans. Below I've outlined exactly why none of the major players wanted this result.
Mujib
The AL's victory outstripped Mujib's bold prediction that they would win 80% of East Pakistan's seats. The fact they won over 95% means that he is constrained by his own success. The powerful student faction within the AL sees the achievement of an overall majority as a mandate to frame the constitution and dictate terms for East Pakistan in the National Assembly. The 6 points are now non-negotiable and an absolute minimum that Mujib can accept if he is to enter government. This leaves Mujib with absolutely no room to maneuver, and will likely bring him into conflict with Yahya and Bhutto.
Bhutto
Of all those involved, Bhutto and the PPP are the most happy. In the election they performed far beyond any expectations and now have a solid power base in West Pakistan. However, the strength of the AL's victory means that Bhutto could have very little influence over the formation of the constitution and could be excluded from the new government. His only tactic therefore may be to form an obstruction and perhaps threaten a boycott of the National Assembly. At present he is maintaining the line that the PPP's overall majority in the West gives them the right to be a part of any future government of Pakistan. This is a position unacceptable to the AL.
Yahya
Yahya has privately told US Ambassador Joseph Farland that despite concerns over the East/West split in the elections he is happy that the election has produced a two party system. It is notoriously difficult to decipher what Yahya means from what he says, but it seems very unlikely that he is pleased with any aspect of the election result. If he wants to keep a hold on power, the scale of the AL victory means that Mujib has a legitimate claim to the presidency that will be difficult to suppress. If he genuinely wants to transfer power, the unwillingness to negotiate on the part of the AL and PPP will make this an extremely difficult path.
The UK and the US
The goal of the UK and US in South Asia is ,and always has been, stability. The absence of conflict in the region has long been viewed as the best defence against communist infiltration. The successes of the AL and the PPP severely increase tension in the region. Pakistan's electorate is clearly split, and it's leaders look unwilling to negotiate. Many UK and US officials feel the threat to peace is very real.
Mujib
The AL's victory outstripped Mujib's bold prediction that they would win 80% of East Pakistan's seats. The fact they won over 95% means that he is constrained by his own success. The powerful student faction within the AL sees the achievement of an overall majority as a mandate to frame the constitution and dictate terms for East Pakistan in the National Assembly. The 6 points are now non-negotiable and an absolute minimum that Mujib can accept if he is to enter government. This leaves Mujib with absolutely no room to maneuver, and will likely bring him into conflict with Yahya and Bhutto.
Bhutto
Of all those involved, Bhutto and the PPP are the most happy. In the election they performed far beyond any expectations and now have a solid power base in West Pakistan. However, the strength of the AL's victory means that Bhutto could have very little influence over the formation of the constitution and could be excluded from the new government. His only tactic therefore may be to form an obstruction and perhaps threaten a boycott of the National Assembly. At present he is maintaining the line that the PPP's overall majority in the West gives them the right to be a part of any future government of Pakistan. This is a position unacceptable to the AL.
Yahya
Yahya has privately told US Ambassador Joseph Farland that despite concerns over the East/West split in the elections he is happy that the election has produced a two party system. It is notoriously difficult to decipher what Yahya means from what he says, but it seems very unlikely that he is pleased with any aspect of the election result. If he wants to keep a hold on power, the scale of the AL victory means that Mujib has a legitimate claim to the presidency that will be difficult to suppress. If he genuinely wants to transfer power, the unwillingness to negotiate on the part of the AL and PPP will make this an extremely difficult path.
The UK and the US
The goal of the UK and US in South Asia is ,and always has been, stability. The absence of conflict in the region has long been viewed as the best defence against communist infiltration. The successes of the AL and the PPP severely increase tension in the region. Pakistan's electorate is clearly split, and it's leaders look unwilling to negotiate. Many UK and US officials feel the threat to peace is very real.