In the year 1968, IMDAD ALI ODHO started his political-cum-social career during the hey-days of former military dictator and President of Pakistan General AYUB KHAN as a student leader by taking part in the struggle for restoration of democracy in the country.

He is a human-rights activist who struggled hard, along with others, for restoration of civilian rule and civil liberties originally meant to benefit poor masses. He joined the band-wagon led by the then Opposition leader, Shaheed ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO (ZAB) - the founding chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) (who later became first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan), against the military dictatorship and was arrested at Jacobabad’s Town Hall, during a public meeting held for Shaheed ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO with two other students namely Ghous Bux Manganhar (Sardar) and Sadiq Ali Lashari.
On November 15, 1969, he became first student leader in Jacobabad who observed hunger strike for 100 hours pressing for dissolution of notorious ‘One Unit’, meant to restoring provinces of Pakistan and publication of “Electoral Lists” in Sindhi language as well. He was, again arrested under the “Black Laws” i.e. Regulations Nos 16 & 18 of Martial Law and was kept in the Sukkur Jail in the wake of country wide protest by the pro-democratic forces who finally succeeded in dethroning military dictator General AGHA MOHAMMAD YAHYA KHAN. He also joined democratic forces on various student platforms and took active part in the popular movement of ‘hunger strikes’ Sindh wide.

Mr. ODHO has the distinction of joining in the ranks of the people known as pro-political real forces led by the great legend of Sindh, known as Sain G.M. SYED, and “Baba-i-Sindh” (Father of Sindh) HYDER BUX JATOI - the founder President of Sindh Haari Committee, the legendary body which was striving for the restoration of rights of peasants meant to ameliorate the plight of down-trodden people in Sindh.

He was also companion of the Sindhi nationalist poet, SHAIKH AYAZ and student leader of his time COMRADE JAM SAQI, thus Mr ODHO played his due role along with other nationalist leaders of Sindh in their struggle for the restoration of democracy, human rights, civil liberties and political rights of Sindh and Sindhi folks. 

On 2^nd July 1970, he, among others warmly welcomed SHAIKH MUJEEB UR REHMAN, President of Awami League on his arrival at Jacobabad SINDH who later was known as FOUNDER OF BANGLADESH. In the welcome gathering organized by people of Jacobabad, he appreciated and supported SHAIKH MUJEEB’s famous “SIX POINTS” & his untiring struggle. Being given warm welcome, Shaikh Mujib thanked to the people of Sindh in general and Mr IMDAD ALI ODHO in particular along with the generous citizens of Jacobabad. SHAIKH MUJEEB demanded the ‘Provincial Autonomy’ and restoration of basic rights of people of Bengal (former East Pakistan, now Bangladesh), Sindh, Balochistan & Pakhtoon-Khuwa ((Provinces of Pakistan), on the occasion.

Mr ODHO was arrested along with Comrade JAM SAQI for leading protest against Govt of Pakistan as it was not willing to Transfer 'Power' to the largest winning party of Pakistan i.e. Awami League and also it committed extra judicial killings in large number of Bengali writers, scholars, intellectuals and prominent personalities.  

On January 02, 1971, in recognition of services and sacrifices, he (Mr ODHO) rendered for the betterment of the student community; he was nominated and finally elected as VICE PRESIDENT of the College's Student Union in the annual elections and defeated the Islamic fundamentalist organization i.e. Jamiat-e-Tuliba Islam. (At that time, the college principal used to be the President of the College Student’s Union).

During the same year (1971), the warrants of arrest were issued favoring Mr ODHO under allegations for leading public procession against the Martial Law, demanding for restoration of basic rights of people of Sindh in addition to democracy during the period of military dictator and Chief Martial Law Administrator General Yahya Khan, under black Regulation-60 of the Martial Law.

After overwhelming success of SHAIKH MUJEEB UR REHMAN, chief of Awami League in the general elections of 1970, due to intervention of military Government, the largest winning political party, Awami League was not invited to form government. On the contrary, brutal army operation was launched against Bengalis in March 1971, in which at least three millions innocent people (Bengalis) were brutally massacred and large-scale arrests were made by the military junta as resistance was being made by Awami League/Bengalis in the country. In Sindh, democratic forces supported the just struggle of the Bengalis, During the Struggle Mr. ODHO arrested.

During his extra curricular activities in the college (1969-1972), he virtually remained “Mr. COLLEGE” on acquiring positions in High Jump, Weight Lifting, Hammer Throw, Cycle Race, Shot-Put etc., ranging for the period of 04 years, Mr ODHO also secured 1^st  position in Body-Building and achieved Award of “Mr. Khairpur” at divisional level in the year 1971. He was also renowned player of indigenous cultural game of Sindh i.e. “Kodi-Kodi”.

On July 24, 1972 being a first Sindhi student leader who belonged to Sindh National Students Federation (SNSF), he started his speech with the slogan of “Jeay Sindh” (Long Live Sindh), during the public meeting held in presence of Shaheed ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO (ZAB), PRESDENT OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN (Shaheed Bhutto later assumed the office of Prime Minister of Pakistan) at Town Hall, Jacobabad, Mr ODHO demanded for recognition of status of national languages to the Sindhi, Seraiki, Balochi, Punjabi and Pashto languages which were already treated as “Regional Languages” of Pakistan instead of National Languages, and also return of the lands of Sindh to the indigenous poor peasants that were allotted to the army Generals at the pea-nut prices during the tenure of ex-army dictator Field Marshal Ayub Khan. He also demanded recognition of ownership right to Sindh on its resources besides granting real “Provincial Autonomy” to all the provinces with the result Federal Govt should keep only three subjects like Currency, Defense and Foreign Affairs with it whereas rest of the portfolios / subjects should be transferred to provinces and also release of students arrested during their struggle for restoration of democracy.

After his speech, police tried to arrest Mr ODHO but luckily, he escaped. However, police illegally arrested his innocent brothers on his behalf; thus Mr ODHO was compelled to continue his political activities “underground”. 

After overwhelming success of SHAIKH MUJEEB UR REHMAN, chief of Awami League in the general elections of 1970, due to intervention of military Government, the largest winning political party, Awami League was not invited to form government. On the contrary, brutal army operation was launched against Bengalis in March 1971, in which at least three millions innocent people (Bengalis) were brutally massacred and large-scale arrests were made by the military junta as resistance was being made by Awami League/Bengalis in the country. In Sindh, democratic forces supported the just struggle of the Bengalis, During the Struggle Mr. ODHO arrested.

October 11, 1972. Police tortured and killed a local labor leader. Consequently Mr ODHO led the agitation movement of students and people of Jacobabad city on which he was arrested.

In the year 1973, he also took part in Sindh-wide struggle on numerous issues. As per “International Pact” – also signed by the Pakistan Govt., PPP Government had to settle at lest 0.2 million Beharis from Bangladesh in Pakistan after repatriation. It was evident; all Beharies had to settle in Sindh province. Nevertheless, all students & political parties agitated throughout the Sindh. Nevertheless, University of Sindh (UoS) was the center of the protest movement where strong struggle against repatriation of Beharis was already launched.

Mr ODHO took active part in movement against the settlement of Beharies in Sindh, As a result, he was offered a lucrative government job i.e. ASP (Assistant Superintendent of Police) or SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate), but he rejected both the offers meant to keep him away from the struggle for masses. Consequently, he was targeted to revenge for his refusal and finally rusticated for 5 years from University of Sindh.Moreover, a case was registered against him under DPR (Defense of Pakistan Rules) – known as “Black Laws” of that time besides indicting on charge of 13D Section by Sindh Government. At that time famous educationists, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah was the Vice Chancellor of Sindh University. As the result of strong agitation of students, only fifty thousands (50,000) Beharis could be repatriated & settled in Sindh. Nevertheless, as a result of fake cases registered against him, Mr ODHO was forced to remain ‘underground’ for the period of one year. 

On October 20, 1973, a central convention of SINDH NATIONAL STUDENT FEDERATION  held at Jacobabad during the period Mr ODHO was “underground.” He was elected as President of Sindh National Students Federation whereas renowned activist Shaheed NAZIR ABBASSI (who was later tortured & killed by Army Major during the tenure of army dictator General Ziaul Haq) was made as General Secretary of the Federation. Later in the year 1974, Sindh Government restored his admission and all cases were quashed away. He got his Master degrees in Political Science and Journalism in addition to LL.B. 

Mr ODHO started his career in 1977 in the field of journalism. He got published a weekly magazine named as “SINDH SUJAG” and became its founder editor. It was progressive & political-cum-literary magazine, striving for economic and cultural betterment of deprived people of Sindh that had wide circulation and substantial contribution being made by intellectual and literary personalities. In the year 1979, he was elected as PRESIDENT OF DISTRICT UNION OF JOURNALIST, Jacobabad and also JACOBABAD PRESS CLUB.

In the year 1989, he launched Sindhi daily AWAMI AWAZ from Karachi by using fully most-modern computer technology which was recently introduced in those days, Thus Awami Awaz became first fully computerized Sindhi daily as he was its founder editor. Awami Awaz introduced new trends in Sindhi Journalism.

In 1997, he became member of entourage of former PRIME MINSTER OF PAKISTAN, MIAN NAWAZ SHARIF during his visit to Turkey and attended D-8 conference at Istanbul and later on, visited Iran along with Prime Minister as member of its entourage.

Mr ODHO also attended International Conference on Children's Rights held between September 11 & 15. 2000, at West Minister’s Center Hall, London (UK), organized by Human Rights International Alliance London. He also attended the proceedings of Sindh Unity International Conference, on the invitation of WORLD SINDHI CONGRESS (WSC), London on September 16. 2000.

He left daily Awami Awaz, Karachi on September 09, 2004, due to some differences with his partners on the policy of the paper.

He launched his own Sindhi publication after returning from abroad known as Daily “SOBH” Karachi on January 01, 2005 and remained its editor till October 2008 and now has started streaming an online radio station (http://www.radiovoiceofsindh.com/) and in near future he has planned to launch a Sindhi TV channel. Odho currently resides in London, UK.