The National Awami Party of Pakistan: Leftist Politics in Crisis

Abstract

THE NATIONAL AWAMI PARTY was the first political organisation in Pakistan with an avowedly leftist programme.' Until the promulgation of martial law in October i958, it held the balance of power in the East and West Pakistan legislatures; in the National Assembly it provided a small but articulate opposition which constantly harped upon anti-Western policy and dismemberment of One Unit in West Pakistan. This strategy had been, both at the centre and in the provinces, to avoid holding office. Off the floors of the Houses, the NAP was determined to make the downtrodden of society more conscious of their problems. Its declared objective had been to launch an uncompromising struggle against imperialism and feudalism.2 Martial Law in 1958 was a set-back for the NAP as it was for other parties. Yet some of the workers continued the party's activities underground.3 After the introduction of the i962 Constitution and revival of political activities in the country the NAP leaders joined the other opposition political parties to form the National Democratic Front (NDF) in the hope of launching a united movement against the Ayub regime.4 The NAP was eventually revived in i964 and since then has passed through several crucial stages. First, it supported the combined opposition parties' presidential candidate, Miss Fatima Jinnah, in i965 and later contested the legislative elections through the electoral college consisting of the Basic Democrats. Second, it organised workers and peasants and tried to give a new turn to their movement. Third, owing to internal factions, personal rivalries and ideological considerations, the NAP divided into pro-Moscow (Muzaffar Ahmed) and pro-Chinese (Bhasani) groups in December i967. Fourth, the question of participation in the elections scheduled to be held in October I970 has further widened the gap be-