Amjad Ayub Mirza
Dr. Amjad Ayub Mirza (Urdu:ڈاکٹر امجد ایوب مرزا) (born c. 1959) is a Pakistani leftist political activist, scholar and leader.
Early Political Career
In 1973 at the age of 14, Dr. Mirza started his political career by organizing street Hawkers Union and other daily wage labourers in Rawalpindi.
After the imposition of Martial Law by Gen. Zia-ul-Haq, 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 parent send him to China for medical education and remained there till 1984. In China he thoroughly observed and studied Mao'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 5 April 1979. This was the first protest rally on this issue in any foreign country. In China he clandestinely published an Urdu revolutionary magazine called Fikrr e Nau.
Return and Recent Activities
In 1984, he returned to Pakistan and started practicing as a medical doctor in Rawalpindi. Since PPP was under severe repression he joined (Maoist) Mazdoor Kissan Party and became member of the central committee and president of Rawalpindi Division. In 1986 he joined Struggle (Jedojuhed),a Trotsky group, based in Lahore. In 1990 he developed serious political differences with Lal Khan and Farooq Tariq. The same year he returned to Rawalpindi and formed People's Fikri Mahaz. PFM continued until 1995.
In 1995 Dr Amjad A Mirza went into self-exile to England and worked there with Labour Party Pakistan as a member of the National Committee and Organizer Labour Party overseas.His self exile terminated in 2005. In 2006 he registered an NGO in Pakistan called Achay Loog (Good People) and was elected its chairman. His work can be cited at www.achayloog.com
In May 2009 he 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 launched a pro-democracy campaign in support of the government of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Publications
- Aik Teer, Do Shikar
- Youm-e-Mayi, Kal Aur Aj
- Larnay Ki Tayyari
- Sarmaye Ki Maut
- Taleban Kaun Hain?
- Several Editorials in Jiddo-Johd, Jang, Imroz and Masawat.
- Free lance feature writer in British left daily Morning Star.
- Bhutto Say Bilawal tak Unpublished work.
See also
- Gen. Zia-ul-Haq
- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
- Mazdoor Kissan Party
- Labour Party Pakistan
- National Students Federation
ur:امجد ایوب مرزا