elec-tion-ary [Elections-in-1985]

Bar on public meetings, processions.

The Martial Law Order 102 of January 12, 1985 disallowed all candidates or party workers from holding or causing any meeting, taking out processions or attending political meetings. Candidates were, however, allowed to hold closed-door meetings and news conferences, and to approach voters either themselves or through their supporters.

Campaigns to boycott elections were also banned. An amendment to the Pakistan Penal Code made it a crime to “induce any person to not participate in any election or referendum,” punishable by imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of Rs500,000, or both.

On November 19, 1985 Amnesty International accused Ziaul Haq’s regime of torturing and denying a fair trial to political prisoners tried in special military courts. “As of September, more than 130 prisoners were serving sentences of between seven and 42 years after special military courts convicted them of political offences, or politically motivated criminal offences. The military courts regularly used as evidence, confessions extracted by torture while prisoners were hung upside down and beaten, given electric shocks, strapped to blocks of ice, deprived of food and sleep for two or three days and burnt with cigarettes. Several of them were held in fetters and chains. People often are tried in courts held in closed session and denied the right of appeal to a higher court.” The number of prisoners held without trial and shot on site was estimated to be ten-fold.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2013.