Information on both the names of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML N) executive members and on the addresses of the PML N headquarters at the national and Punjab level could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

However, Europa 1994 provides Punjab addresses for two of the four PML factions: PML Fido is located at 33 Agha Khan Road, Lahore, and PML Junejo is located at Muslim League House, Rawalpindi (1994, 2300-01). In May 1993 the PML Junejo group split into two factions, one led by Mohammad Nawaz Sharif (PML N) and the other, which retained the name PML Junejo, led by Hamid Nasir Chatta (ibid.; Keesing's May 1993, 39466).

According to Keesing's, of 12 by-elections to the national assembly on 2 December 1993, the PML-N won four, including one in Lahore, Punjab (Dec. 1993, 39778-79). In the 2 December 1993 by-elections for ten provincial assembly seats, the PML N won a seat each in Sind and the North West Frontier Province (ibid.).

According to the attached 12 October 1994 AFP report, on 11 September 1994, the opposition, led by Nawaz Sharif and his PML, started a month-long campaign against the Bhutto government. The campaign, which began with Nawaz Sharif's tour of the country by train, called for "a nationwide commercial shutdown on September 20 [1994] and sponsored rallies and demonstrations on September 29 [1994]." An opposition-sponsored general strike "to cripple transport and paralyse commercial and industrial life" was also held (ibid.). The attached IPS report provides additional information on the general strike and refers to an announcement by the opposition to block road traffic on 27 September 1994 (21 Sept. 1994). Both of the attached Xinhua articles provide more detailed information on the opposition's anti-government protest, which was led by Sharif.

According to Reuters and Xinhua, Nawaz Sharif and five other politicians were banned by authorities from entering Sind province for ten days, until 7 October 1994 (28 Sept. 1994; 2 Oct. 1994).

Please consult the attached articles from The Nation and Nawa-i-waqt for additional information on the PML N.

Please consult the attachments from The News of 12 Oct. 1993, PTV Television Network of 10 Oct. 1993 and 11 Oct. 1993, and Radio Pakistan Network of 10 Oct. 1993 and 12 Oct. 1993, for references to Nawaz Sharif (PML N) and Benazir Bhutto (PPP) forming governments at both the federal and the provincial levels.

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.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 12 October 1994. Sami Zuberi. "Political Feud Sharpens Polarisation in Pakistan." (NEXIS)

The Europa World Year Book 1994. 1994. 35th ed. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications.

Inter Press Service (IPS). 21 September 1994. Beena Sarwar. "Pakistan: Opposition Calls Anti-Bhutto Strike a Success." (NEXIS)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. December 1993. Vol. 39, No. 12. "Pakistan: By-elections."

_____. May 1993. Vol. 39, No. 5. "Pakistan: Election of Sharif and Chatta as Rival Leaders of Pakistan Muslim League."

Reuters. 28 September 1994. BC Cycle. "Pakistani Opposition Says Hundreds Held by Police." (NEXIS).

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 12 October 1994. Sami Zuberi. "Political Feud Sharpens Polarisation in Pakistan." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service (IPS). 21 September 1994. Beena Sarwar. "Pakistan: Opposition Calls Anti-Bhutto Strike a Success." (NEXIS)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. December 1993. Vol. 39, No. 12. "Pakistan: By-elections," pp. 39778-79.

The Nation [Lahore, in English]. 1 September 1993. "PML Said Capable of Two-Thirds Majority Victory." (FBIS-NES-93-182-S 22 Sept. 1993, pp. 27-29)

_____. 4 August 1993. "Muslim League Factionalized." (FBIS-NES-93-182-S 22 Sept. 1993, p. 27)

Nawa-i-waqt [Lahore, in Urdu]. 22 August 1993. "Effect of Muslim League Splinter Analyzed." (FBIS-NES-93-182-S 22 Sept. 1993, p. 27)

The News [Islamabad, in English]. 12 October 1993. "PML (N) Alleges Election Irregularities." (FBIS-NES-93-196 13 Oct. 1993, pp. 81-82)

PTV Television Network [Islamabad, in English]. 11 October 1993. "Sharif Views Possibility of Forming Governments." (FBIS-NES-93-196 13 Oct. 1993, p. 81)

_____. 10 October 1993. "Voter Turnout 43 Percent." (FBIS-NES-93-196 13 Oct. 1993, p. 78)

Radio Pakistan Network [Islamabad, in Urdu]. 12 October 1993. "Calls Elections Fair." (FBIS-NES-93-196 13 Oct. 1993, p. 80)

_____. 10 October 1993. "Bhutto Says PPP to Form Federal, Provincial Governments." (FBIS-NES-93-196 13 Oct. 1993, pp. 78-79)

Reuters. 28 September 1994. BC Cycle. "Pakistani Opposition Says Hundreds Held by Police." (NEXIS)

The Xinhua News Agency. 2 October 1994. "Pakistani Opposition Plans to Launch Strike." (NEXIS)

_____. 12 September 1994. "Pakistan's Opposition Launches Anti-Gov't Movement." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

AsiaWeek [Hong Kong]. Weekly. August 1993 to present.

DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa]. Weekly. June 1993 to present.

The Europa World Year Book. Yearly. 1993, 1994.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily. May 1993 to present.

Herald [Karachi]. Monthly. January to May 1994.

India Today [Delhi]. Fortnightly. 1993 to present.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. Monthly. 1993 to present.

People in Power [Cambridge]. Monthly. 1994.

On-line search of media sources.