PAKISTAN: KARACHI UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

Record ID: 584463

  • Title: PAKISTAN: KARACHI UNDER MARTIAL LAW.
  • Date: 28th March 1969
  • Summary: KARACHI STREET SCENES; POLICE AROUND CITY; MOHARRUM DAY PROCESSION; SOF. Initials CP/VS/PW/LAD Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 12th April 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KARACHI SITUATIONER
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Reuters ID: LVA3LZ9KIE2VX5OFELK3UZSCOWV7
  • Story Text: PAKISTAN WAS REPORTED QUIET TODAY (FRIDAY) AS THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF GENERAL YAHYA KHAN, MOVED INTO ITS THIRD DAY. ALREADY 21 WORKERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED UNDER THE COUNTRY'S NEW MARTIAL LAW REGULATIONS AND AUTHORITIES ARE PREPARED FOR ANY EVENTUALLY.

    WHILE TROOPS ARMED WITH BREN GUNS PATROLLED KARACHI IN TRUCKS, JUNIOR COMMANDERS SET UP HEADQUARTERS TO ADMINISTER MARTIAL LAW IN CITIES AND TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE LAND.

    THE ARMED FORCES HAVE EXERTED CONTROL WITH LITTLE FANFARE AND THE SHOW OF FORCE HAS NOT BEEN TOO CONSPICUOUS. THE RADIO STATION IN KARACHI, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS A MERE HANDFUL OF SOLDIER AT THE GATE.

    GENERAL YAHYA'S BROADCAST ON WEDNESDAY, WHEN HE PLEDGED TO RESTORE CONSTITUTIONAL RULE AFTER RESTORING LAW AND ORDER HAS BEEN THE ONLY POLICY STATEMENT SO FAR.

    TROOPS AND POLICE STEPPED UP THEIR PATROLS FOR THE MOHARRUM DAY OF MOURNING, WHEN HUGE PROCESSIONS OF MOSLEMS LAMENT THE DEATH OF IMAM HUSSAIN, GRANDSON OF THE PROPHET MOHAMMED. THE CEREMONY OF SELF-FLAGELLATION IS BUT A PRELUDE TO THE PROCESSION.

    UNDER THE TOUGH MARTIAL LAW REGULATIONS, RIOTERS MAY BE HANGED, AGITATORS AND PEOPLE WHO INCITE LABOUR UNREST SENTENCED UP TO 14 YEARS IN PRISON. OFFENDERS AGAINST THE REGULATIONS MAY BE GIVEN UP TO 30 LASHES.

    POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS ARE BANNED AND THOUGH THE PARTIES ARE NOT, POLITICAL LIFE HAS BEEN EFFECTIVELY FROZEN.

    MEETINGS AND PROCESSIONS MUST BE AUTHORISED, AND UNDER THE REGULATIONS ANYONE CRITICISING MARTIAL LAW OR ITS OPERATION FACES A STIFF JAIL SENTENCE.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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