Media sources have described the People's Student Federation (PSF) as either the youth wing of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) (AFP 19 June 1991; ibid. 9 July 1991; DPA 18 Oct. 1994) or its student wing (UPI 19 June 1991; AFP 31 May 1992; St. Louis Post-Dispatch 19 July 1993).

AFP and the Islamabad-based newspaper The News also referred to the Sindh People's Student Federation (SPSF) (AFP 31 May 1992; The News 17 Apr. 1999), which the former described as "a dissident student wing" of the PPP (AFP 31 May 1992).

Although recent information on the PSF could not be found, the following glimpses provide general, although dated, information on the group.

In June 1991 police arrested more approximately 140 PSF members in connection with the 18 June 1991 murder of Judge Nabi Sher Junejo (UPI 19 June 1991). Police suspected the assassination was in retaliation for death sentences Junejo had passed on PSF members (ibid.). The PPP denied involvement in the assassination (ibid.).

In July 1991 the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) reported that Pakistani police had arrested 963 individuals in Karachi since the beginning of the year for "acts of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and theft," with a majority of those arrested being PSF activists (AFP 9 July 1991). The PPP reportedly denied any involvement in terrorism and accused the Sindh government of "victimizing" its workers (ibid.).

In mid-July 1993 five bombs exploded in Karachi and police suspected the involvement of the "militant" PSF, although no one claimed responsibility (St. Louis Post-Dispatch 19 July 1993). Following the blasts, Bhutto reportedly "distanced herself from the group" (ibid.).

In October 1994 two PSF activists were killed, apparently in retaliation for the deaths the previous night of two opposition Pakistan Muslim League (PML) workers (DPA 18 Oct. 1994).

In April 1999 the SPSF called a strike in Tando Jam and held a demonstration in protest of the "conviction and disqualification" of Benazir Bhutto and Senator Asif Zardari (The News 17 Apr. 1999). The police baton-charged approximately 30 demonstrators and arrested a dozen others (ibid.).

Please consult PAK13276 of 18 February 1993 for general information on the PSF.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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 additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 31 May 1992. "Over 200 Arrested in Drive Against Crime in Sindh." (NEXIS)

_____. 9 July 1991. "Hundreds Linked to 'Political' Crimes in Karachi: Report." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 June 1991. "Ex-Bhutto Aide Swept Up in Wave of Arrests After Judge Shot." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 18 October 1994. BC Cycle. "14 Killed in Fresh Outbreak of Violence in Karachi." (NEXIS)

The News [Islamabad, in English]. 17 April 1999. "Protest Demonstrations Held in Pakistan." (FBIS-NES-1999-0417/WNC)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 19 July 1993. Five Star Edition. "Pakistan's Prime Minister, President Resign." (NEXIS)

United Press International (UPI). 19 June 1991. BC Cycle. "More than 100 students affiliated with former Prime Minister Bhutto's party were arrested... ." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International Report 1999. 1999.
Bureau of South Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State. November 1997.

Background Notes: Pakistan.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Yearly. 1997, 1998, 1999.
DIRB. February 1993.

Pakistan: The Pakistan People's Party.

Electron search engine.

Google search engine.

Metacrawler search engine.

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) official Website.

Pakistan People's Party, Central Executive Committee, Islamabad, Pakistan. Updated 20 May1999. The Illegal Acts of Senator Rehman and Ehtesab Bureau. A Miscarriage of Justice and Abuse of State Power and illegal political persecution by the Nawaz regime. (A report on the systematic human rights violations)

U.N. Commission on Human Rights. 1994. Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: Pakistan.. U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/1994/31 (Nigel Rodley, Special Rapporteur) (WWW)

Electronic sources: CISNET, Internet, IRB Databases, NEXIS, WNC.