Pakistan: Situation of members of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in Sindh province and their treatment by government authorities and other political and/or ethnic groups, since the imposition of "governor's rule" in October 1998

"Governor's rule" involved the suspension by the federal government of the Sindh provincial assembly (Dawn 30 Oct. 1998) and the imposition of federal rule (DPA 22 Jan. 1999). In addition, "the federal government gave sweeping powers to the armed forces to arrest, interrogate and summarily try alleged terrorists in Sindh" (India Abroad 4 Dec. 1998).

According to an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids Iowa, who specializes in social and political movements in both Syria and Pakistan, the police have been "hard" on some political activists in Sindh Province since the imposition of "governor's rule." However, he stated in a 12 May 1999 telephone interview that it has been only those persons who have been "highly active" politically who have been arrested and/or "harassed" by police. Moreover, he has not heard of any members of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) having been arrested or harassed since, in his opinion, "governor's rule" was imposed to deal with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

In an April 1999 article on the current situation of the PPP, The Herald opined that "Sindh PPP appears to be in the best shape" of all PPP groups, and that, before "governor's rule" was imposed, PPP support was beginning to weaken and thus "perhaps, in that sense, governor's rule has come as a blessing in disguise" (52).

Much of the documentary information on events in Sindh since the imposition of "governor's rule" deals with the MQM and its members, with few references to the PPP. However, the following brief chronology of events involving the PPP, reported in documentary sources since the imposition of "governor's rule" in October 1998, may be of interest.

Dawn reported on 30 October 1998 the criticism by the PPP of the imposition of "governor's rule." On 16 November 1998, members of the Sindh provincial assembly, belonging to both the PPP and MQM, were prevented by security forces from entering the provincial legislature (ibid. 17 Nov. 1998; NNI 17 Nov. 1998). The governor stated that the legislative session called by the two parties was illegal as a result of the federal government' suspension of the powers of the speaker and deputy speaker (ibid.). In response to their inability to enter the legislature, the members engaged in a two hour sit-in on the pavement outside the building and then dispersed on their own accord (ibid.; Dawn 17 Nov. 1998).

On 30 November 1998 Dawn reported that the Sindh Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (SARD) had demanded the end of "governor's rule." This group is a coalition that includes the PPP, several other political parties, and "11 workers unions and NGOs" (ibid.). India Abroad reported on 4 December 1998 that the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) was formed on 21 November 1998 and that "all major political parties" were supportive of it and that its membership included the PPP (ibid.). Its leader, Baseer Naveed, stated that it would "initially hold rallies and demonstrations in Karachi and other parts of Sindh" in opposition to the military courts set up by the federal government to deal with "unrest" in the province (ibid.).

On 5 December 1998 Dawn reported the criticism made by the Jamat-I-Islami of the government's prohibition of public meetings. The party's spokesperson blamed both the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) for the current situation and claimed that "the PPP was once again wooing MQM."

The News reported on 8 December 1998 that the Karachi division of PPP had set up "emergency cells" in district party offices and at People's Secretariat "to help the innocent people from police excesses" and that assistance would be extended to all, regardless of political affiliation.

On 28 February 1999, youth members of PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) and  Sindh Peoples Students Federation (SPSF) held a protest in Hyderabad against a police raid on Al-Murtaza House in Larkana (Dawn 1 Mar. 1999). The participants marched and shouted chants against individual senators and called for the release of PPP (SB) leaders Ehsan Bhatti, Ali Soonaro and Ali Ahmed Palipoto (ibid.). In another event in Hyderabad on the same day, 15 SPSF members engaged in a "token hunger strike" to protest "the alleged murderous attack on PPP chairperson, Ms Benazir Bhutto" (ibid.).

In another event involving members of PPP (SB) in Sher Khan Khoso village of Kandiaro on 3 March 1999, Dawn reported that "police disarmed dozens of people" as well as "picked up" a number of people, although many were later released (4 Mar. 1999). At least six activists were "formally arrested" and detained, including "Iqbal Khoso, brother of a slain political activist of Sindh People's Students Federation (SPSF) Mahboob Khoso, his cousin Pahelwan Khoso, as well as Asadullah and Haji Khan, both nephews of PPP (SB) Sukker chief, Rafique Khoso" (ibid.). The PPP (SB) "reacted strongly to, what it called 'police attack'," on the village and held a march "to condemn the 'illegal arrests and seizure of legal arms' during the crackdown on party workers" (ibid.).

Women members of the PPP participating in a 8 March 1999 Karachi procession marking International Women's Day, were reported to have been "baton-charged" by police (Dawn 10 Mar. 1999). On 17 March 1999 Dawn reported that the women's wing of PPP Sindh had decided to "take active part in any anti-government agitation to be launched by the PPP" and would go ahead with the arrangements.

In Karachi, speaking at a 17 March 1999 press conference, "relatives of those killed in police custody since the imposition of governor's rule...accused the government of not doing justice by not apprehending those who had been nominated for the alleged excesses (Dawn 18 Mar. 1999). While not mentioning the PPP specifically Dawn added that "some of them had no connection with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement" (ibid.). The brother of Abdul Sattar Baloch, a PPP (SB) member who was killed extra-judicially, "complained that despite the directives of the Sindh High Court, none of the persons nominated in the FIR had been arrested or punished" (ibid.).

In April 1999, in response to the conviction of Benazir Bhutto on corruption charges there were reports of demonstrations and strikes in Sindh province. AFP reported on a 16 April 1999 march of about 2,000 PPP supporters in Karachi (16 Mar. 1999). The participants, who were accompanied on their three kilometre trek by hundreds of police, burned effigies of Prime Minister Nawaz Sahrif. They dispersed without incident, although authorities stated that thousands of security forces were deployed in the province in preparation for a strike called by the PPP in defiance of Governor's Rule. There were other reports of minor clashes involving PPP student members in different areas and police stated they had detained "about a dozen protestors" (ibid.).

In response to the PPP strike call a number of towns in rural Sindh were reported to have been "paralyzed" (AFP 17 Apr. 1999). There was support in Hyderabad and Sukker and reports of PPP activists blocking roads. In the town of Nawabshah, according to party officials, "police baton-charged a protest rally...and detained federal Senator Ghulum Qadir Chandio along with a dozen others." In Karachi, "shops were closed in Lyari district, inhabited mainly by PPP supporters, where dozens of women rallied in protest." A PPP spokesperson claimed that about 100 party workers had been detained in the province (ibid.). South China Morning Post reported on 18 April 1999 that the strike call was "largely ignored in Karachi" but that in addition to the arrest of Senator Chandio, "40 other people who were apparently demonstrating" had been arrested. AP stated that, according to a PPP spokesperson, there were "sporadic demonstrations throughout the country, particularly in ... Sindh, [which] led to the arrest of nearly 500 people" (18 Apr. 1999).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 17 April 1999. Owais Tohid. "Police on Alert as Strike Over Bhutto's Conviction Grows." (NEXIS)

_____. 16 April 1999. "Thousands of Supporters March in Protest Over Bhutto's Conviction." (NEXIS)

Associated Press (AP). 18 April 1999. Amir Zia. "Bhutto's Party Protests Conviction in Letter to World Leaders." (NEXIS)

Dawn [Karachi]. 18 March 1999. "Extra-Judicial Killings: Relatives Deplore Govt's Apathy." [Internet] [Accessed 18 Mar. 1999]

_____. 17 March 1999. "PPP Women Ready to Join in Anti-Govt Agitation." [Internet] [Accessed 17 Mar. 1999]

_____. 10 March 1999. "Death of MQM Activists: Govt Backing Extra-Judicial Killings: Aftab." [Internet] [Accessed 11 Mar. 1999]

_____. 4 March 1999. "PPP (SB) Stages Protest Rally as Activists Held, Disarmed." [Internet] [Accessed 4 Mar. 1999]

_____. 1 March 1999. "PPP (SB) Continues Protest Against Police Action." [Internet] [Accessed 1 Mar. 1999]

_____. 5 December 1998. "JI Amir Flays Ban on Public Meetings." [Internet] [Accessed 7 Dec. 1998]

_____. 30 November 1998. "Alliance Calls for End to Governor's Rule." [Internet] [Accessed 3 Dec. 1998]

_____. 17 November 1998. "Premises Sealed: Govt Blocks Holding of Sindh PA Session." [Internet] [Accessed 17 Nov. 1998]

_____. 30 October 1998. "Governor Rule Has Been Imposed in Sindh." [Internet] [Accessed 30 Oct. 1998]

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 22 January 1999. "Pakistani Ethnic Party Deputy Arrested in Karachi." (NEXIS)

The Herald [Karachi]. April 1999. Vol. 30, No. 4. Syed Dayan Hasan. "Praying for a Miracle."

India Abroad [Toronto]. 4 December 1998. Muhammad Najeeb. "Opposition Unites to Counter 'Mini-Martial Law' in Sindh." [Internet] [Accessed 8 Dec. 1998]

Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 12 May 1999. Telephone interview with Assistant Professor of Political Science.

The News [Karachi]. 8 December 1998. "PPP's Legal Aid Cells." [Internet] [Accessed 8 Dec. 1998]

News Network International (NNI). 17 November 1998. "PPP, MQM Members Barred From Entering Sindh Assembly." [Internet] [Accessed 17 Nov. 1998]

South China Morning Post. 18 April 1999. Zahid Hussain. "Bhutto Heartland Goes on Strike." (NEXIS)