- Amjad Ayub Mirza
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Dr. Amjad Ayub Mirza (Urdu:ڈاکٹر امجد ایوب مرزا) (born c. 1959) is a Pakistani leftist political activist,[1] scholar and leader.
Contents
Early political career
On 1 May 1972 at the age of 12 young Amjad Ayub started his political career by delivering his debut speech at the Pakistan People's Party May Day Rally at Rawalpindi Press Club. In 1973 at the age of 14, Amjad was busy organizing street Hawkers Union and other daily wage labourers in Rawalpindi.
After the imposition of Martial Law by Gen. Zia-ul-Haq he was 17. Soon he became a frontline activist of Pakistan People's Party's student resistance movement in Rawalpindi. In 1977 he got arrested by the military regime. He was only 17 at the time of his arrest. He was tried by a summary military court and sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment and five lashes. At the time he was among the youngest political prisoner.
Exile
In 1978, his parents send him to China for medical education where he remained till 1984. It was in China that he thoroughly observed and studied Mao Zedong's revolutionary methodology. In 1979 when the former elected Pakistani Prime-Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was assassinated, Dr Mirza conducted a massive anti-Zia rally in Beijing on 6 April 1979. This was the first protest rally on this issue in any foreign country. In China he clandestinely published an Urdu pro-democracy magazine called Fikrr e Nau.
Return and recent activities
In 1984 he returned to Pakistan after completion of his Medical degree and was made Cultural Secretary of PYO, Pakistan People's Party Rawalpindi Division.
In May 2009 he toured Pakistan and gave several lectures on democracy related topics to university students in Lahore. He has vast experience of working among different Pakistani political and social groups and in particular youth. Currently he has become supportive of the government of President Asif Ali Zardari, and is writing articles for a number of Pakistani and international dailies. In March 2011 he was made the Co-ordinator of Pakistan Peoples Party UK Media Cell.
He is also the Chairman of Dr Ayub Mirza Foundation.
Publications
- Aik Teer, Do Shikar
- Hum Ghulam Kasay Baney?
- Youm-e-Mayi, Kal Aur Aj
- Larnay Ki Tayyari
- Sarmaye Ki Maut
- Taleban Kaun Hain?
- Several Editorials and articles for Daily Times, Pakistan,
Jang and The News London, Imroz and Masawat Pakistan.
- Free lance feature writer in British left daily Morning Star.
- Mis-representation of Culture in Pakistan Cinema. Unpublished work.
- Bhutto Say Bilawal tak Unpublished work.
See also
- Gen. Zia-ul-Haq
- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
- Mazdoor Kissan Party
- Labour Party Pakistan
- National Students Federation
References
- ^ "Seminar pays rich tribute to Benazir Bhutto". Daily Times. 23 December 2010. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/print.asp?page=2010\12\23\story_23-12-2010_pg7_16. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
Categories:- Pakistani communists
- Pakistani activists
- Pakistani democracy activists
- Living people
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