2,000 Zia Foes Jailed in Last Two Weeks; Protests Continue
At least 2,000 opponents of the government of President Zia ul-Haq have been jailed in the last two weeks, police said today. The government accused the opposition of trying to dismember Pakistan.
A few peaceful demonstrations were reported across the country today as the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy, an alliance of 11 opposition parties, sought to sustain its drive to oust Zia, an army general who took power in a 1977 coup.
About 1,000 people marched peacefully through Karachi shouting “Down with Zia” and “Release the political prisoners” as riot police looked on without intervening.
Security officials said quiet prevailed nationwide, with no renewal of the political violence that has left at least 29 people dead and dozens wounded since Aug. 14.
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