Information on Pakistan National Alliance (PNA), its origin and present existence, on whether the PNA was a forerunner of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), and information on the different factions of the Muslim league and on political parties supported by each faction [PAK20905.E]

Please consult the attached excerpt of the 1984 edition of Political Parties of the World for historical information on the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA). On whether the PNA was a forerunner of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), please note that the PNA was founded in 1977 (Political Parties of the World 1984, 348), while the PML came into existence in 1962 as the successor to the pre-independence All-India Muslim League (Political Handbook of the World 1994-1995 1994, 666). In a book published in 1989, one specialist on Pakistani affairs stated that "the rump of the PNA, along with the PPP, formed the Movement of the Restoration of Democracy" in 1981 (Duncan 1989, 70). In addition, compendiums on world political parties published since 1984, which are currently available to the DIRB, do not provide any information on the PNA.

For information on factions within the Pakistan Muslim League and on political parties supported by each faction, please consult the attached excerpt of Political Handbook of the World 1994-1995. According to a Reuters article, a group of the Pakistan Muslim league associated with Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is ruling Pakistan with the help of a group of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), while the main faction of the PML is led by opposition leader Nawaz Sharif (Reuters 20 Dec. 1994).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Political Parties of the World. 1984. 2nd ed. Compiled and edited by Alan J. Day and Henry W. Degenhardt. Harlow, Essex: Longman Group Limited.

Political Handbook of the World 1994-1995. 1994. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Duncan, Emma. 1989. Breaking the Curfew: A Political Journey Through Pakistan. London: Penguin Group.

Reuters. 20 December 1994. BC Cycle. Raja Asghar. "Bhutto Expands Cabinet After Key Minister Resigns." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Duncan, Emma. 1989. Breaking the Curfew: A Political Journey Through Pakistan. London: Penguin Group, pp. 66-71.

Political Handbook of the World 1994-1995. 1994. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications, p. 665-66.

Political Parties of the World. 1984. 2nd ed. Compiled and edited by Alan J. Day and Henry W. Degenhardt. Harlow, Essex: Longman Group Limited, pp. 348-50.

Reuters. 20 December 1994. BC Cycle. Raja Asghar. "Bhutto Expands Cabinet After Key Minister Resigns." (NEXIS)

Other Sources Consulted

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily.

Material from the Indexed Media Review (IMR) or country files containing articles and reports from diverse sources (primarily dailies and periodicals) from the Weekly Media Review.