Communist Party of Pakistan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Communist Party of Pakistan
کمیونسٹ پارٹی آف پاکستان
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 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–Leninism |
| Political position | Far-left |
| National affiliation | Left Democratic Front |
| International affiliation | IMCWP |
| Colors | Red |
| Election symbol | |
Hammer and Sickle.png) |
|
The Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) is a political party in Pakistan. It was started in 1948 by Sajjad Zaheer. The party believes in Communism, which is an idea about creating a society where everyone is equal. In this type of society, resources and wealth are shared among all people.
Contents
History of the Party
The Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) was formed in Calcutta, India, on March 6, 1948. This happened shortly after Pakistan became an independent country. Leaders from the Communist Party of India decided to create a separate party for the new nation of Pakistan. They believed that Pakistan, being a new and somewhat unstable country, was ready for big changes.
Sajjad Zaheer, a well-known writer, was chosen as the first general-secretary of the CPP. Many Muslim leaders from the Indian party moved to Pakistan to help establish the new party. The CPP followed Leninist ideas. This meant they wanted to start a communist revolution by guiding a small group of smart people and workers. This idea was inspired by Vladimir Lenin and the 1917 Russian Revolution.
The CPP secretly helped organize groups for workers and students. They played a role in starting the Democratic Students Federation (DSF). The DSF became a very important student organization. CPP members often led these groups without openly saying they were part of the party.
In 1951, the CPP became involved in a plan to change the government. This plan was led by a military officer named Major-General Akbar Khan. The plan was discovered too early. As a result, Sajjad Zaheer and other CPP leaders were arrested and put in jail. The party was officially banned in 1954. They were accused of trying to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan.
After being banned, the CPP continued to work in secret. They used other groups like the DSF and later the National Students Federation (NSF) as their public face. CPP members also joined other leftist parties, especially the National Awami Party (NAP). The NAP became a major leftist group in Pakistan by the 1960s.
Party Challenges and Growth
After some leaders were freed and sent to India, the CPP faced difficulties in West Pakistan. In East Pakistan, the party had a small but growing base. It was hard to keep one unified secret political group across such a large area. Because of this, the East Pakistan branch was able to work more independently.
The 1950s: New Ways to Operate
In the 1954 provincial elections in East Pakistan, the CPP supported the United Front. This group included the Awami League and other parties. Four out of ten CPP candidates were elected. Also, 23 CPP members were elected as candidates for other parties.
In 1954, the party and its related groups were banned. These groups included the National Students Federation and the Progressive Writers' Movement. Because of this, the CPP started the Azad Pakistan Party (APP) in West Pakistan. In 1957, the CPP and other leftist groups created the National Awami Party as a legal party. The APP then joined the NAP. In East Pakistan, the CPP worked within the Awami League and another group called Ganatantri Dal.
The 1960s: Splits and New Directions
Around the mid-1960s, the party had about 3,000 members. The CPP also started organizing outside Pakistan. In Europe, the CPP branch published a magazine in Urdu called Baghawat, which means "rebellion."
In 1966, a major disagreement between China and the Soviet Union affected the CPP. In East Pakistan, a group that supported China broke away from the CPP. At a party meeting in Dhaka in 1968, it was decided that a separate communist party should be formed for East Pakistan. This led to the creation of the Communist Party of East Pakistan (CPEP). The CPEP later became the Communist Party of Bangladesh.
The CPP also organized a strong farmers' movement in Patfeeder, Baluchistan. The party stood against strict governments of the time. They also helped build strong trade union movements for workers.
The 1990s: Mergers and Rebirth
In December 1990, Jam Saqi became the general secretary of the party. He resigned in April 1991. In 1995, the CPP joined with a part of the Mazdoor Kisan Party to form the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party (CMKP). The CPP admitted that they had been too supportive of the Soviet Union without enough criticism. However, in 1999, a group left the CMKP and restarted the CPP. In 2002, the CPP split again, leading to two separate CPPs.
Current Status of the Party
The Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP), founded in 1948 by Sajjad Zaheer, is still active today. It is a small party that strongly believes in Marxist-Leninist ideas. The party does not participate in Pakistan’s main parliamentary elections. Currently, it is led by a Central Committee, with Comrade Imdad Qazi serving as the Secretary General.
The CPP is not officially registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan. This means it cannot run in elections under its own name. However, the party remains active through other groups, such as the Popular Left Alliance. It works with other progressive and leftist organizations.
The party has strong connections with workers, farmers, students (through its student group, the Democratic Students Federation), women, and thinkers. It continues to publish its party newspaper, Surkh Parcham. The CPP also takes part in international communist networks, like the International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties (IMCWP).
Even though it is not often seen in the news or in elections, the CPP regularly speaks out on issues in Pakistan and around the world. It criticizes imperialism (when powerful countries control weaker ones), class oppression (when one group of people is treated unfairly by another), and bourgeois nationalism (a type of national pride that supports the wealthy). The CPP has faced internal splits, like the one in 2002, but it has remained organized under Qazi’s leadership since the early 2010s. In Pakistan’s political world, which is mostly led by right-wing and religious parties, the CPP continues to offer a Marxist view of capitalism. It focuses on organizing people at the local level and promoting class struggle to bring about big changes in Pakistani society.
Electoral History
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 191 | 0% |
0 / 342
|
 |
This table shows how the Communist Party of Pakistan has performed in past elections for the National Assembly of Pakistan. In the 2013 election, they received 191 votes, which was 0% of the total votes, and did not win any seats.
See also
- Politics of Pakistan
- List of political parties in Pakistan
- List of communist parties
