Sacrifices for Freedom: PMAP Heroes under Zia’s Oppression
- On October 7, 1983, Mehmood Khan Achakzai led a peaceful protest in Quetta, which was met with brutal force, resulting in the deaths of four PMAP workers.
- General Zia-ul-Haq's martial law ruthlessly suppressed dissent, banning political parties, censoring the press, and violently silencing opposition.
- PMAP continued its struggle for democracy, with Mehmood Khan Achakzai going into self-exile, and the party's sacrifices shaping a more democratic Pakistan.
The year 1983 marked one of the darkest periods in Pakistan’s political history, with General Zia-ul-Haq’s authoritarian martial law suppressing dissent and silencing democratic voices. Among those who stood up against the ruthless regime was Mehmood Khan Achakzai. On October 7th, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, a stalwart of the Pakhtunkhwa National Awami Party now PMAP, led a peaceful protest in Quetta, demanding the restoration of democracy and an end to the tyrannical rule. This demonstration, however, was met with brutal force, marking a dark chapter in Pakistan’s history.
As the protestors reached Qandhari Bazaar Quetta, the atmosphere was charged with a mix of hope and defiance. The peaceful march soon turned into a scene of chaos and bloodshed when police and security forces opened indiscriminate fire on the unarmed demonstrators. The air was filled with the sounds of gunfire and the cries of the wounded, as four dedicated PMAP workers—Ulasyar, Kaka Mehmood, Kaka Ramzan, and Dawood Jan—fell to the ground, their lives brutally cut short. The streets of Quetta were stained with the blood of these martyrs, whose only crime was to dream of a democratic Pakistan.
The events of October 7th, 1983, were a shred of evidence of this tyranny, as the regime sought to crush any semblance of resistance with overwhelming force. Despite the overwhelming odds, the struggle for democracy did not wane.
The violence did not end with the deaths of these four brave souls. The crackdown left 29 political workers severely injured, their bodies bearing the scars of a regime that knew no mercy. Additionally, 61 protestors were arrested, their fates uncertain as they were dragged away by the very forces meant to protect them.
The brutality of the response was a stark reminder of the lengths to which Zia ul Haq’s regime would go to silence dissent. Zia ul Haq’s martial law was characterized by its ruthless suppression of any opposition. Political parties were banned, the press was heavily censored, and dissenting voices were either imprisoned or executed the regime’s iron-fisted approach created an atmosphere of fear and repression, where the mere act of speaking out could lead to severe consequences.
The events of October 7th, 1983, were a shred of evidence of this tyranny, as the regime sought to crush any semblance of resistance with overwhelming force. Despite the overwhelming odds, the struggle for democracy did not wane. Mehmood Khan Achakzai, facing imminent threats to his life, went into self-exile for six years. From afar, he continued to champion the cause of democracy, refusing to be silenced by the regime’s intimidation tactics.
The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s (PMAP) struggle against dictatorship is a story of courage and sacrifice. The party’s history is marked by its relentless fight against authoritarianism, from the days of Zia ul Haq’s martial law to the present. Their efforts have been instrumental in shaping a more democratic and just Pakistan, honoring the legacy of those who gave their lives for this cause.
The author is the Provincial Deputy Secretary of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a student of International Politics
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