al-Zulfikar
al-Zulfikar was a far-left terrorist faction formed in 1979 by Pakistani politician Murtaza Bhutto. Named after his father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the group opposed the military government Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the president of Pakistan, who had deposed Zulfikar in 1977.
| al-Zulfikar | |
|---|---|
| الذُوالفِقار | |
| Founder | Murtaza Bhutto |
| Foundation | 1979 |
| Dissolved | 1988 |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Headquarters | Kabul, Afghanistan Libya Syria |
| Part of | Pakistan People's Party |
| Allies | Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Soviet Union Syria |
| Opponents | Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq |
Al-Zulfiqar was formed to avenge Bhutto's killing by means of armed struggle against Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Zia had deposed the Bhutto regime after mass protests across Pakistan that were related to the dissatisfaction of the masses with the rule of Bhutto (mismanagement of East Pakistan, alleged links of Bhutto to political murders, corruption, economic stagnation as a result of nationalization, deteriorating education system, etc.) in a Military coup in July 1977.
Bhutto was hanged by the Zia regime. Bhutto's two sons, Murtaza Bhutto and Shahnawaz Bhutto went into exile in Afghanistan which was then being ruled by a Soviet-backed communist government. There the two sons formed the Al-Zulfiqar along with hundreds of Pakistan Peoples Party militants who had escaped Zia's persecution.