40 years ago August 25, 1986: Threat of crackdown in Pakistan

On August 25, 1986, Pakistan's government threatened to take "drastic action" against opposition groups who were striving to overthrow President Zia-ul-Haq and force early elections. However, the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) remained resolute in their campaign. Despite the government's warnings, no clashes had erupted between anti-government activists and security forces, indicating a relatively peaceful situation.

The rift within Pakistan's political landscape deepened when two senior associates of the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Benazir Bhutto, defected to form a rival opposition party. Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, a former chief minister of Sindh province, and Ghulam Mustafa Khar, a former chief minister and governor of Punjab province, declared their intention to launch a new party at a convention in Lahore. Their decision came after Bhutto was accused of being an "autocrat out of touch with the people."

Meanwhile, violence flared in Punjab province, where suspected terrorists carried out attacks and looting. In Faridkot district, two gunmen stopped a vehicle and shot three passengers, while another incident saw suspects targeting a petrol pump. Security forces swiftly responded to the ongoing threats, conducting combing operations to apprehend the perpetrators.

The political turmoil in Pakistan drew international attention when India demanded compensation from the country for the boycott of the 13th Commonwealth Games held in Edinburgh. India claimed that the 32 nations that abstained from participating owed a sum of £245,000 (approximately Rs 4.4 million) due to their refusal to impose economic sanctions against South Africa. The boycott was a response to the British government's decision not to enforce stringent sanctions on the apartheid regime in South Africa.