Communist Party of Pakistan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Communist Party of Pakistan
کمیونسٹ پارٹی آف پاکستا
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| Abbreviation | CPP |
| Secretary-General | Imdad Qazi |
| Founder | Sajjad Zaheer |
| Founded | 6 March 1948 |
| Split from | Communist Party of India |
| Student wing | Democratic Students Federation |
| Ideology | Communism Marxism–Lenlenism |
| Political position | Far-left |
| National affiliation | Left Democratic Front |
| International affiliation | IMCWP |
| Colors | Red |
| Election symbol | |
Hammer and Sickle.png) |
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The Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) is a communist political party in Pakistan. It was started in 1948 by Sajjad Zaheer.
Contents
History of the Party
How the Party Started
The CPP was formed in Calcutta, India, on March 6, 1948. This happened soon after Pakistan became a new country. Leaders from the Communist Party of India decided that a separate party was needed for Pakistan. They thought Pakistan might be ready for big changes because it was a new country and faced some challenges.
Sajjad Zaheer was chosen as the first General-Secretary. He was from West Pakistan. Other leaders from East Pakistan also formed their own local committee. Many Muslim leaders from the Communist Party of India moved to Pakistan to help set up the new party.
Early Challenges
The party worked secretly after it was formed. In 1951, some of its leaders were accused of trying to overthrow the government. This was known as the Rawalpindi Conspiracy case. Because of this, the party was banned in July 1954. Many leaders were put in jail across the country.
Party Goals and Struggles
The CPP leaders were jailed, and the party faced many difficulties. The government tried to stop the party from operating.
A leader from India, Jawaharlal Nehru, helped some of the main CPP leaders get out of jail. They were sent back to India. At this time, the CPP was not very strong in West Pakistan. In East Pakistan, the party had a small base. It was hard to keep the party united across such a large area. So, the East Pakistan branch worked quite independently.
The 1950s
In 1954, there were elections in East Pakistan. The CPP supported a group called the United Front. This group included the Awami League. Four out of ten CPP members who ran for election won. Also, 23 CPP members won elections as candidates for other parties.
Later in 1954, the government banned the CPP and its related groups. These groups included the National Students Federation and the Progressive Writers' Movement. Because of this, the CPP started a new party called the Azad Pakistan Party (APP) in West Pakistan.
In 1957, the CPP and other similar groups created the National Awami Party. This new party was allowed to operate legally. The APP then joined the National Awami Party. In East Pakistan, the CPP worked with other parties like the Awami League. In 1958, a group for farmers called the Kull Pakistan Kissan Association was started.
The 1960s
Around the mid-1960s, the party had about 3,000 members. The CPP also started to organize outside of Pakistan. In Europe, the CPP published an Urdu magazine called Baghawat, which means "rebellion".
In 1966, there was a big disagreement between communist parties around the world, known as the Sino-Soviet split. This disagreement also affected the CPP. In East Pakistan, a group that supported China broke away from the CPP.
In 1968, at a big meeting in Dhaka, the party decided to form a separate communist party for East Pakistan. This new party was called the Communist Party of East Pakistan (CPEP). The CPEP later became the Communist Party of Bangladesh.
The CPP also organized strong farmer movements in areas like Patfeeder, Baluchistan. The party stood against governments that did not allow much freedom. It also helped build strong groups for workers.
The 1990s
In December 1990, Jam Saqi became the general secretary of the party. He resigned in April 1991. In 1995, the CPP joined with another party called the Mazdoor Kissan Party. They formed a new party called the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party (CMKP). The CPP admitted that they had been too supportive of the Soviet Union in the past.
However, in 1999, a group left the CMKP and started the CPP again. In 2002, the CPP split again. This led to two different CPPs. One was led by Maula Bux Khaskheli, and another was led by Khadim Thaheem.
Current Status
The Communist Party of Pakistan is not officially registered in Pakistan today.
Electoral History
The table below shows how the party did in elections for the National Assembly.
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
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| 2013 | 191 | 0% |
0 / 342
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See also
- Politics of Pakistan
- List of political parties in Pakistan
- List of communist parties
