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.

In 1980, PPP persuasively reached out to left-wing organizations in the country and started its political function after calling for the end of the military regime of President Zia-ul-Haq.

It was particularly strong in rural Sindh, where it was fueled by people's resentment against the state, and it finally took 3 army divisions and helicopters to bring the uprising down.

The Communist Party, with the support from USSR, began its political operations in Sindh and ultimately calling for civil disobedience against the military regime.

[1] Pakistan Muslim League Qasim Group (CPP)|| Syed Kabir Ali Wasti || centre Left || #CE2029 || Dissolved in PML Quaid e Azm |} The foreign policy historian of Pakistan noted that MRD's one of the two leading parties, ANP and CPP, had gained popular and financial support from the Soviet Union in the 1980s.

President Zia’s interior secretary, Roedad Khan, later wrote that the regime was able to manipulate this perception to their advantage and prevent the MRD from gaining greater appeal on a nationwide level.

[1] In 1980, PPP persuasively reached out to left-wing organizations in the country and started its political function after calling for the end of military regime of President Zia-ul-Haq.