Movement for the Restoration of Democracy

Movement for the Restoration of Democracy
Presidium	Rasool Bux Palijo (Awami Tahreek) Benazir Bhutto (PPP) Shaheed Fazil Rahu (Awami Tahreek) Jam Saqi (CPP) Abdul Wali Khan (ANP) Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman (JUI(F))
Founded	8 February 1981 (1981-02-08)
Dissolved	24 August 1988 (1988-08-24)
Ideology	Left-wing populism Socialism
Political position	Left-wing
Colors	Red
Party flag
Politics of Pakistan Political parties Elections

The Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD), Urdu: اتحاد برائے بحالی جمہوریت, was a political alliance in Pakistan founded in 1981 by the political parties opposing the military government of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the sixth president of Pakistan. Headed by Benazir Bhutto of the Pakistan People's Party, its objective was the end of martial law and restoration of the democracy.

Formed in February 1981, the alliance was noted for its left-wing populism orientation and had Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League (Khwaja Khairuddin group), Pakistan Democratic Party, Tehreek-e-Istiqlal, Awami Tehreek, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam, Mazdoor Kisan Party and Pakistan Muslim League Qasim Group led by Syed Kabir Ali Wasti. The alliance was rooted in rural areas of Sindh Province and remained mostly nonviolent, was strongest among supporters of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Though it launched one of the most massive nonviolent movements in South Asia since the time of Gandhi, failure to expand beyond its southern stronghold combined with effective repression from the military led to its demise a year and half later. The alliance dissolved within a week after the death of Zia which marked its way for general elections, outlined the return of Pakistan Peoples Party in national power.^[1]