THE last week of April 1972 began on a disruptive note. On April 25, it was reported that the previous morning departure of Tezgaam was delayed when railway workers did not allow its engine to come out of the loco shed for over half-an-hour in order to press for their demands. Their demands were: implementing pay-scales, granting 33-day annual leave and making permanent the nature of employment of those who were working on a temporary basis.

The train steamed out of Karachi’s Cantonment Station late by an hour as a result of the gherao of the engine. The workers had also gone on a lightning strike after an exchange of heated words between senior officials and them in the loco workshop. However, and thankfully, it all ended in the afternoon following fruitful talks between the works’ manager and the strikers.

Situations such as the one created by the railway employees can create law and order issues for which the police are required to get things under control. In those days, the provincial capital was expanding at breakneck speed. On April 26, it was learnt that Karachi would have 12 more police stations soon and two outposts to combat crime in the city. The government of Sindh had sanctioned more staff — 1,622 foot constables and extra funds — to streamline the functioning of the police.

The new police station sanctioned by the government were North Nazimabad, New Malir, Landhi Industrial Area, Mahmoodabad, Baldia, Wilayatabad, Pak Colony, Model Colony, Mauripur, Joharabad, Gulberg and New Karachi. The outposts were: Gadap and Mazaar-i-Quaid-i-Azam.

Speaking of the mazaar, on April 30, Mir Rasool Bux Talpur, the new governor of Sindh, placed a wreath and offered fateha at the mazaar of the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He became governor of the province replacing Mumtaz Bhutto, who was now chief minister of Sindh. It was Mr Talpur’s first public engagement after assuming office. He also offered fateha at the mazaars of Shaheed-i-Millat Khan Liaquat Ali Khan, Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar and Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah.

The same day, the governor appealed to the people to celebrate May Day in the most befitting manner. In a statement, Mr Talpur gave assurance that his government would fulfil its party’s commitments made to the working classes and would take all possible measures to safeguard the workers’ fundamental rights.

Half a century back, May Day used to be a significant annual event in the socio-cultural calendar of the country — it still is, but arguably has less public awareness. In 1972, in Karachi, the programmes that were lined up to mark the day included a number of processions to be taken out and meetings to be held by labourers, workers, journalists and student organisations.

Dawn published a pen sketch by the renowned artist Bashir Mirza, fondly known as BM to his friends and admirers, to pay homage to the martyrs of the Chicago movement.

Not just that, despite what had transpired in the eastern wing of Pakistan, on April 28, rich tributes were paid to the late Maulvi A K Fazlul Haq, Sher-i-Bengal, on his 10th death anniversary observed by the Pakistan Parliamentarians Association. Addressing the audience on the occasion, one of the leaders of the Pakistan Movement, Ahmed E H Jaffer recalled Mr Haq’s services for the uplift of the Muslims in Bengal in the fields of politics, social welfare and education.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2022