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Political Movements in Sindh

Part of the SPSC (Sindh) study roadmap. Sindh Studies topic sindh--007 of Sindh Studies.

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Political Movements in Sindh

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Political Movements in Sindh — Key Facts for SPSC (Sindh)

  • Sindh’s political history includes resistance to British colonial rule (1843–1947) and later movements for regional autonomy
  • G.M. Syed was the key figure in Sindh’s political awakening and advocacy for Muslim rights
  • Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was founded in 1967 by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Lahore but drew its strength from Sindh
  • Sindhi nationalism has been a persistent political theme — demands for greater provincial autonomy
  • ⚡ Exam tip: G.M. Syed’s role, PPP’s founding, and provincial autonomy movements are high-yield for SPSC

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Political Movements in Sindh — SPSC (Sindh) Study Guide

Early Political Awakening (Late 19th–Early 20th Century)

Pre-Annexation Politics

  • Before the 1843 British conquest, Sindh was ruled by the Talpur Mirs
  • The Talpur dynasty established Hyderabad as their capital in 1783
  • After British annexation, political consciousness emerged through Islamic reform movements

Islamic Reform Movements

  • Deobandi movement (founded 1867 in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh) spread to Sindh
  • Barelvi movement (popular in South Asia) also had followers in Sindh
  • These movements shaped Sindhi Muslim political identity

Aligarh Movement’s Influence

  • Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s educational movement influenced Sindhi Muslims
  • Graduates from Aligarh Muslim University returned to Sindh and established schools
  • This created the first politically conscious middle class in Sindh

Formation of the All India Muslim League (1906)

  • 1906: Sindhi delegates attended the founding session in Dhaka
  • Gopal Krishna Gokhale visited Sindh — early exposure to pan-Indian political movements
  • Mushirul Haq and Moulvi Pir Muhammad were early Muslim League leaders in Sindh

Pre-Partition Political Activity

The Lucknow Pact and Sindh (1916)

  • The Lucknow Pact (1916) between Congress and Muslim League was supported by some Sindhi leaders
  • Sindh Muslim League was established during this period

The Nehru Report (1928) and Sindh

  • 1928: The Nehru Report (proposed dominion status) was rejected by Muslim League
  • Sindhi leaders expressed concern about Hindu majorities in provincial politics
  • G.M. Syed (Ghulam Murtaza Syed) was a leading figure who advocated for separate Muslim representation

G.M. Syed — Key Political Leader

  • Born: 1903 in Hyderabad, Sindh; died 1980
  • Early political career: joined Indian National Congress (1930s) — advocated for Muslim rights within Congress
  • Shift to Muslim League: 1938 — joined the All India Muslim League
  • Advocate for Sindhi identity: championed Sindhi language and cultural rights
  • Advocated for Sindh’s separation from Bombay Presidency — successfully campaigned for the 1936 separation
  • Wrote extensively on Sindhi politics, history, and identity
  • His works remain important references for Sindhi political thought

Separating Sindh from Bombay Presidency (1936)

  • 23 December 1936: Sindh became a separate province
  • G.M. Syed was the leading political figure behind this achievement
  • This was a defining moment for Sindhi political consciousness
  • Significance: gave Sindhis a provincial platform for political expression

The Pakistan Movement in Sindh (1940–1947)

Support for the Lahore Resolution (1940)

  • Sindh’s Muslim League supported the 1940 Lahore Resolution
  • G.M. Syed and other Sindhi leaders actively campaigned for Pakistan

British Policy and the Pakistan Movement

  • The British government initially favored united India but accepted partition in 1947
  • Sindh’s political elite were largely pro-Pakistan

1947 — Accession to Pakistan

  • 27 January 1947 (before independence): Sindh became the first province to formally accede to Pakistan
  • This was significant because it came before the actual partition
  • Sardar Abdur Rashid was appointed as the first Governor of Sindh under the new dispensation
  • Muhammad Ayub Khuhro (later Chief Minister) was an early political leader

Post-Partition: Early Political Challenges

  • Hindu Sindhi exodus (1947): ~500,000+ Sindhi Hindus migrated to India
  • Significant loss of professional and commercial class
  • Land reforms attempted to address Zamindari (landlord) system but largely ineffective

Post-Independence Politics — Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and PPP

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto — Rise to Power

  • Born: 5 January 1928 in Larkana, Sindh — from a prominent political family
  • Father: Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto — a political leader in British India
  • Education: University of California, Berkeley (BA); Christ Church, Oxford (law)
  • Entered politics: joined the Pakistan National Congress (1947); later Muslim League

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — Founding (1967)

  • PPP founded on 30 November 1967 in Lahore
  • Founder: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
  • Ideology: “Socialism with Islamic characteristics”
  • Popular slogan: “Rope of the people” (popular support)

PPP’s Political Philosophy

  • Populist socialist ideology: advocated for land reforms, nationalization of industries, workers’ rights
  • Appealed to Sindhi identity and pride: emphasized rural and working-class support
  • Criticized Ayub Khan’s industrial policies (benefits to elite only)

1970 Elections — PPP’s Victory

  • December 1970: General Elections — PPP won 81 of 138 NA seats (East Pakistan: Awami League won all seats)
  • West Pakistan: PPP dominated Punjab, Sindh, NWFP
  • Bangladesh crisis: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League won all East Pakistan seats → demanded autonomy → Liberation War

Bhutto’s Government (1971–1977)

  • Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became President (1971–1973) and then Prime Minister (1973–1977)
  • 1973 Constitution: promulgated — most democratic constitution; parliamentary system restored
  • Land reforms (1972): attempted to reduce feudal power — limited impact
  • Nationalization (1971–1974): banks, basic industries, and steel mills nationalized
  • Relationship with Sindh: Bhutto was seen as a champion of Sindh’s rights; PPP became the dominant party in Sindh

Downfall and Alleged Assassination (1977)

  • 1977 elections: alleged rigging; protests and turmoil
  • Army coup (July 1977): Zia-ul-Haq took power; Bhutto arrested
  • Alleged assassination: Bhutto died on 4 April 1979 (officially suicide; PPP claims assassination)
  • Benazir Bhutto (Zulfikar’s daughter) became the PPP’s leader

Sindhi Nationalism and Autonomy Movements

Post-Bhutto Period

  • After Zia’s martial law, Sindhi political consciousness grew
  • PPP under Benazir Bhutto: PPP won elections in 1988 and 1993 — PPP remained dominant in Sindh
  • Sindhi nationalism: political parties like Sindh Democratic Alliance and later Awami Tehreek-e-Insaf (ATI) advocated for greater Sindhi rights

G.M. Syed’s Later Politics

  • G.M. Syed became increasingly critical of Punjabi dominance and PPP
  • Advocated for Sindhi self-determination in his later writings
  • Founded the Sindh Democratic Alliance in the 1980s

1990s — PPP Dominance with Challenges

  • Benazir Bhutto served as PM (1988–1990, 1993–1996)
  • Nawaz Sharif (PML-N) from Punjab — tensions between Sindh (PPP) and Punjab (PML-N)
  • Ethnic riots in Karachi (1990s): MQM (Muhajir Qaumi Movement) vs PPP — ethnic tensions
  • Sindhi nationalists accused PPP of abandoning Sindhi interests in favor of national politics

Contemporary Politics in Sindh

PPP in the 2000s–2020s

  • Benazir Bhutto assassinated (27 December 2007)
  • Asif Ali Zardari (Benazir’s husband) led PPP
  • Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (son of Benazir and Asif) now PPP Chairman
  • PPP remains dominant in Sindh but faces challenges from PTI (Imran Khan)

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Sindh

  • PTI founded 1996 by Imran Khan
  • Made significant inroads in urban Sindh (Karachi, Hyderabad) in the 2018 elections
  • 2018 elections: PTI performed well in Karachi but PPP maintained rural Sindh dominance

MQM (Mohajir Qaumi Movement)

  • MQM emerged in Karachi (1984) as a party representing Muhajirs (post-partition migrants from India)
  • Major political force in urban Sindh (Karachi, Hyderabad)
  • Involved in ethnic violence with PPP in the 1990s–2000s
  • Has seen split and reconciliation multiple times

Current Political Landscape (2023–2024)

  • PPP-led coalition government at the center (Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N + PPP)
  • Sindh provincial government under PPP (Chief Minister: Murad Ali Shah)
  • PTI challenges PPP in urban areas; faces political persecution allegations
  • Karachi: major political battleground between PPP, PTI, MQM-P, and PML-N

SPSC Exam Focus Points

  • G.M. Syed was instrumental in separating Sindh from Bombay Presidency (1936) — very important
  • Zulfikar Ali Bhutto founded PPP in 1967 in Lahore; was from Larkana, Sindh
  • Bhutto’s death: 4 April 1979 (officially suicide; PPP claims assassination)
  • Sindh was the first province to accede to Pakistan (27 January 1947)
  • Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on 27 December 2007
  • Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is the current PPP Chairman
  • MQM is a Karachi-based party representing the Muhajir community (post-1947 migrants from India)

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