Pakistan: Information on the Police force in Karachi Sindh (Sind) Province 1) Ethnic composition of the Police in the Province of Sindh (Sind) 2) Percentage of Mohajirs having positions of authority in the Police Department in the Sindh (Sind) Province 3) Current threat posed by the police to Mohajirs in Karachi 4) Current incidents between the police force and Mohajirs in Karachi
| Publisher | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1991 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAK8609 |
| Cite as | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Pakistan: Information on the Police force in Karachi Sindh (Sind) Province 1) Ethnic composition of the Police in the Province of Sindh (Sind) 2) Percentage of Mohajirs having positions of authority in the Police Department in the Sindh (Sind) Province 3) Current threat posed by the police to Mohajirs in Karachi 4) Current incidents between the police force and Mohajirs in Karachi, 1 June 1991, PAK8609, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad2d1c.html [accessed 22 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
1) Information on the subject is currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
2) Information on the subject is currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
3) Information on the subject is currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
4) Keesing's Record of World Events reports the death of 80 Mohajirs including "women and children" as a result of the Sindh police force opening fire on a crowd of protestors in Mohajir-populated areas of Karachi in May 1990 (May 1990, 37452). The source also reports the death of 20 people in three Mohajir districts after those areas were placed under curfew (Ibid.).
While not specifically dealing with the subject, the following information on the Mohajirs in Sindh may be noteworthy.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1990 states that the law enforcement agencies of the Sindh Province in Pakistan usually "favour" the members of Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) when they attack the Indian Muslim immigrants in Pakistan (Mohajirs) who are "largely" affiliated with the Mohajir Quomi Movement(MQM) (Country Reports 1990 1991, 1593). The source also reports "allegations" against the PPP federal and provincial governments which hold that "a police 'clean-up operation' reportedly intended as a crackdown on illegal weapons, was in reality an attack on rival MQM activists. The PPP denied the allegations" (Ibid., 1593, 1594).
A Globe and Mail article reports the kidnapping of 100 students by rival student groups (5 Feb. 1990). The article also reports a Sindh Province government spokesman's accusation that the MQM was behind the kidnapping of most of these students who were PPP supporters and who were released after being tortured (Ibid.). However, the MQM Chairman accused "pro-Bhutto student
groups" for the kidnapping (Ibid.).
The Muslim reports "widespread violence during the anti-government strike" in the Pakistani city of Karachi in February 1990 which "marked the high point in the tension between the ruling... PPP and ... MQM" (8 Feb. 1990, 1). The source refers to the MQM as the organizer of the strike which was "in protest against what [MQM] leaders called PPP's attempt to crush political opposition in Sindh" (Ibid.). According to the same source, the following clashes between the "anti-government demonstrators and security forces" left at least 38 people dead and over 180 wounded (Ibid.).
The Xinhua General Overseas News Service reports 41 killed and 130 wounded during a day-long strike in Karachi which was called by the MQM (8 Feb. 1990).
A Globe and Mail article maintains that 82 people were killed and more than 275 people were wounded as a result of clashes between Pakistani security forces and opposition groups in two cities of the Sindh Province: Karachi and Hyderabad (28 May 1990, 1). While no one took responsibility for the violence, the article reports the police's claim that a militant faction of the MQM was responsible (Ibid., 2). The source further reports the arrest of more than 800 people including MQM and PPP members (Ibid.).
Further information on the subject is currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
Bibliography
The Globe and Mail. 5 February 1990. "Around the World: Student Groups Kidnap 100 in Karachi." (NEXIS)
. "82 Killed, 275 Injured as Violence Erupts in Pakistan Province." pp. 1, 2. (NEXIS)
Keesing's Record of World Events 1990. 1990. Vol. 36. London: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1990.
The Muslim [Islamabad]. 8 February 1990. "38 Killed, 180 Hurt in Karachi Violence." pp. 1, 6.
The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 8 February 1990. "Major News Items in Leading Pakistani English Newspapers." (NEXIS)
U.S. Department of State. 1991. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1990. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Attachments
The Globe and Mail. 5 February 1990. "Around the World: Student Groups Kidnap 100 in Karachi." (NEXIS)
. 28 May 1990. "82 Killed, 275 Injured as Violence Erupts in Pakistan Province." pp. 1, 2. (NEXIS)
Keesing's Record of World Events 1990. 1990. Vol. 36. London: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1990.
The Muslim [Islamabad]. 8 February 1990. "38 Killed, 180 Hurt in Karachi Violence." pp. 1, 6.
The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 8 February 1990. "Major News Items in Leading Pakistani English Newspapers." (NEXIS)
