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MRD 1983 movement against Zia Martial Law, some details of its sixth day from my book People’s Movements in Pakistan
Day Six: 19th August, Deedar, a young boy of 15, succumbed to his injuries in a Larkana hospital. He was injured by the tear gas shelling on previous day at
Day Six: 19th August, Deedar, a young boy of 15, succumbed to his injuries in a Larkana hospital. He was injured by the tear gas shelling on previous day at
Khairpur Nathan Shah. In the previous night at about eleven, an armed group of unknown people damaged the railway track between Ghotki and Mahesar which resulted in a pilot engine crash. According to available accounts, this was an attempt to over-throw the passenger train,
running to Lahore from Karachi. Firing between the armed gang and the police was also reported. It took nine hours to repair the damaged track and during that time all the trains for up-country had to halt at Rohri Railway Station.
Another railway station was damaged in Shikarpur
Another railway station was damaged in Shikarpur
where protesters after cutting the telephone lines, burned the records and tickets. They tried to burn down the railway station but police reached the spot and resorted to aerial firing to disperse the mob, which later damaged a commercial bank and other properties. Here two MRD
workers courted arrest. The police produced them in the military court, which promptly sentenced them to one year rigorous imprisonment, fifteen thousand rupees fine and ten lashes. In Hyderabad, for the first time after the start of MRD movement, workers gathered in front of a
mosque and ten pro-democracy workers, including two journalists courted arrest after addressing the rally. The police arrested two young-men for bringing garlands for the protesters. The young-men claimed that they were carrying roses from a local shrine.
The Hyderabad police
The Hyderabad police
arrested a local PPP leader Malik Lal Khan, in a raid on his brother’s house. Two days earlier, the local MRD leadership addressed a press conference at his house and afterward had slipped away before the arrival of police. The police also arrested a former Sindh Assembly member.
In Sukkur, thousands of people took out a rally and six workers courted arrested. In Khairpur Nathan Shah, a student rally was tear gassed. Another rally was also tear gassed which angered the people and clashes between protesters and police erupted. In Khanpur, demonstrators
attacked and damaged the telephone exchange and a commercial bank, after police failed to control the situation, the town was handed over to army. Tando Ghulam Ali observed a complete strike and over 15 thousand people took out a rally. Two workers courted arrest and police
arrested another three students and few political workers. In Talhar students, citizens and workers of the Khoski Sugar Mills took out a joint rally. In spite of baton charge and use of tear gas, the police failed to control the situation and the town was handed over to army. In
clashes between protesters and the law enforcing agencies, many officials including police men got injured. Police arrested more than a dozen activists. In Karachi, three workers courted arrest in heavy rain at the venue of protest during anti-British empire struggle, Ram Bagh
(after partition renamed as Aram Bagh). In Sakrand three local MRD leaders were arrested before reaching the venue for courting arrest. In Johi, two workers including a college student courted arrest. The injured youth Kalu Mirbahar succumbed to injuries. He was injured in police
firing two days earlier. In Larkana, unknown protesters set on fire three vehicles of agricultural department, while four workers were arrested. Police resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the large number of people, who had gather to greet workers. In
Warah, situation went out of control when a rally of over five thousand people attacked a commercial bank and burnt down its records and furniture. Afterward they moved to local Civil Court and attempted to set free the prisoners from the police lock-up. Police fired tear gas and
resorted to aerial firing. On their way back, mob burnt down the records and furniture of local post office. In Thatta, three workers courted arrest in front of the historical Shahjahani mosque in heavy down-pour. In Badin, the rally was attacked by the police, which resulted in
clashes between them and protesters. Few arrests were made by the police. In Sanghar, regardless of the influence of Pir Pagaro, a pro-Zia politician and religious leader, a pro-democracy rally was organized, which was attacked with baton charge and aerial firing by police. In
retaliation protesters threw stones and afterward four workers were arrested. In village Maqsoodo Rind,rally was taken out and after addressing the public, three workers courted arrest. In Jhol, six workers courted arrest, whom the police released 40 miles away in a deserted area
A rally from village Tharari Mohabat reached Radhan, marching through three kilometers and set on fire the office of Zia HimayatTahreek. In Khairpur, two workers carrying anti-government placards were arrested. Police also arrested two leaders from their homes in pre-dawn raids.
In Qazi Ahmed, thousands of protesters brought out a rally amidst a complete strike in city. They attacked and set on fire three commercial banks and telephone exchange. Exchange of firing was reported between security guards and protesters, resulting in the death of a bank guard
The protesters dispersed after baton charge and aerial firing by the police. The Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, postponed the examinations for indefinite period because of worsening political situation. In Liaquat Medical College, students continued
their academic boycott on the call of Shaheed Ahsan Memon Students’ Action Committee. In Khairpur, students burnt the effigy of General Zia and the US flag. They demanded release of Benazir Bhutto, Comrade Jam Saqi, Rasool Bakhsh Palijo and other political prisoners.
In Moro,
In Moro,
death toll of the police firing rose to five, as one boy succumbed to injuries and three dead-bodies were found from a nearby farm.
In Dadu, overall thirty MRD workers were arrested in first six days of the movement and all of them were charged under the Martial Law Regulations
In Dadu, overall thirty MRD workers were arrested in first six days of the movement and all of them were charged under the Martial Law Regulations
no. 3, 13 and 77. In Jacobabad four and in Sukkur ten workers were sentenced, fined and lashed by two separate military courts. In Lahore, a military court awarded sentence of one year imprisonment and twenty thousand rupees fine to two MRD workers. They were accused of violating
Martial Law Regulations no. 13 and 33. The Sindh Constabulary registered a murder case of one constable against the two constables of the Frontier Constabulary. This was the first sign of the rift among the state institutions on the basis of pro and anti-democracy.
In a strange
In a strange
move, a Sindhi daily Mehran, Hyderabad, owned by a pro-Zia politician and a spiritual leader Pir Pagaro, published a hard hitting anti-government editorial. The newspaper had recently hired Shamsherul Hyderi, a progressive writer as its editor. Here are the few portions of that
editorial, ‘at the time of writing these lines, five days have passed of the movement launched to end the Martial Law rule and the restoration of democracy in the country, which started from the mausoleum of Quaid in Karachi on the Independence Day and afterward turned violent.
Hundreds have been arrested by the government and hundreds have voluntarily courted arrest. First time in the history of the country, feudal lords, spiritual leaders and former ministers have been sent to prisons. Rallies of five to seventy five thousand are going to prisons
through ‘Fill the Prisons Movement’. At many places the prisons are over-crowded, so the police are leaving the arrested people in far off deserted areas, but they are joining the movement again.
Angry protesters attacked banks, courts and administrative offices at many places
Angry protesters attacked banks, courts and administrative offices at many places
and destroyed the official records. Damage to railway tracks and signals had jeopardized the lives and security of thousands of men and women passengers. The house detained leaders of elite classes are asking to be shifted to prisons. At many places women have also come out
on roads and organized protests. The National Highway and other important roads are being blocked for hours on a daily bases. The police are using batons, tear gas and live bullets, which is resulting in deaths and injuries to the people.
On one hand the free people are courting
On one hand the free people are courting
arrests and on the other hand the prisoners are breaking the police stations and minor prisons to escape. Just in one single day, over one hundred prisoners have escaped from a single prison.
All these acts are for the end of Martial Law and for the restoration of democracy,
All these acts are for the end of Martial Law and for the restoration of democracy,
launched by MRD and supported by few other political forces. The anarchy within the country had opened few other avenues and in this regard the example of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan of Khudai Khidmatgar can be cited, who has openly talked about the Bannu Resolution, which means a
separate country for Pashtoons.
Because of the internal crisis situation of Pakistan, its neighbors India and Afghanistan had alerted their armies for any untoward situation.
We are not concerned about the success or failure of the MRD movement but are worried about the security
Because of the internal crisis situation of Pakistan, its neighbors India and Afghanistan had alerted their armies for any untoward situation.
We are not concerned about the success or failure of the MRD movement but are worried about the security
and integrity of the country and want to know who will be responsible for the harm done to it?
We will sincerely advice General Zia that he should invite the politicians to initiate talks with them on the schedule of the elections’.
Couple of days later, a strict censorship was
We will sincerely advice General Zia that he should invite the politicians to initiate talks with them on the schedule of the elections’.
Couple of days later, a strict censorship was
imposed on daily Mehran and few days later its editor Shamsherul Hyderi resigned from post in protest.
In fear of protest, the government postponed a book launch ceremony, scheduled on 19th August in Islamabad; General Zia was chief guest of the program. To restrain government
In fear of protest, the government postponed a book launch ceremony, scheduled on 19th August in Islamabad; General Zia was chief guest of the program. To restrain government
employees from joining the anti-government movement, their salaries were raised and it was announced that the order would be valid from previous month.
Newly born son of jailed peasant leader Fazil Rahu died but authorities refused to release him on parole to attend last rituals.
Newly born son of jailed peasant leader Fazil Rahu died but authorities refused to release him on parole to attend last rituals.
In Quetta, two MRD workers were arrested. Authorities issued two letters, addressed to imprisoned MRD leader Fatahyab Ali Khan; according to the first, he was detained for ninety days and through second order his entry in NWFP was banned for ninety days.
Meanwhile, authorities
Meanwhile, authorities
released Gul Mohammed Jakhrani, the Central President of Jeay Sindh Students Federation, after imprisonment of eight month. His separatist organisation was opposed to the ongoing MRD movement.
A military court in Rawalpindi sentenced nine MRD workers for one year imprisonment and
A military court in Rawalpindi sentenced nine MRD workers for one year imprisonment and
ten lashes each. They were accused of taking out an anti-government rally and raising slogans against the government. Mir Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo, the President of Pakistan National Party (PNP), in a message glorified the people of Sindh and said that as the doctors will discharge
him from the hospital, he will join the movement and will not care for his detention orders.
In an interview with BBC radio, central MRD leader Wali Khan, who was in London for his treatment, said that as all the leadership had been arrested so historically peaceful Sindhis were
In an interview with BBC radio, central MRD leader Wali Khan, who was in London for his treatment, said that as all the leadership had been arrested so historically peaceful Sindhis were
taking violent path for their democratic demands. He said that the rulers had instigated people to violence by saying that ‘they were not ready to come out’ and now they had only one choice, struggle for democracy or align with the military government.
The Jamiat-i-Ulama-i-Islam
The Jamiat-i-Ulama-i-Islam
Senior Vice President Syed Hamid Mian, in an interview said that linguistic, regional and sectarian movements were emerging in the country so the government should immediately hold elections and transfer the power to the elected representatives. An exiled PPP leader Jam Sadiq Ali
addressing a press conference in London, asked the international community to put moral pressure on General Zia for the release of Benazir Bhutto and other political prisoners in Pakistan. Addressing a Meet the Press program at Karachi Press Club, Tahreek-i-Istaqlal leader
J. A. Rahim warned that the masses will reject those political parties who will not become part of the ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy.
The President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Minhaj Burna, criticized the restrictions of freedom of press
The President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Minhaj Burna, criticized the restrictions of freedom of press
through Press and Publications Ordinance and said that because of the censorship the dignity of the journalism had been lost.
On the other hand, a federal minister for health, Doctor Naseerud Din Jogazai claimed that the civil disobedience movement had completely failed as it was launched by the anti-state elements.
