There has been never any other better time in history of Pakistan for a greater Left unity than the There is great urge among all the Left and progressive forces to unite on one platform.
The Pakistan Peoples Party was traditionally seen as a party that would fight against militarization and for democracy. Under Benazir Bhutto, the PPP has become a party of compromises and conciliation with the present military regime of General Musharaf. She has already finalized a deal on power sharing with present military regime that has become one of the most hated among ordinary people. The price hike, unemployment, class polarization, uncertainty of future and rising incidents of mass killings have become the hallmark of the Musharaf regime. Benazir Bhutto has tried to win over her lost support in Pakistan during the process of dealing with Musharaf by a massive show of mass power in Karachi which has been disrupted by the suicidal attacks of religious fundamentalist forces. expensive political events in the history of Pakistan, costing over 3 billion Rupees.
The illusions among many that the PPP would turn to left wing ideas have been shattered. On the contrary, PPP has never been further to the right than it is at present.
This has given the Left forces a real chance to win over the sympathies of many who are disillusioned and disappointed by PPP character. This is a chance for the Left to win them over by taking new organizational measures and flexible tactics by coming closer and unity.
At the same time, the Mutehida Majlas Amal, the religious fundamentalist unity alliance has never been as disunited as they are today. There is an open war going on among them. This will not be seen by the masses a healthy sign. Even if they are able to have lost precious time in fighting over tactics about the best way to fight against Musharaf regime. It was difficult for many of them to the opponents. adjust to the present day realities that the state is not must the same as was the case in the past. to disassociate itself under right to assembly. We can the imperialist pressure not let the few individuals from the religious fundamentalist forces. The reli- dictate their terms and congious fundamentalists are
on the offensive on the basis of their ability to show to
the masses that are the anti imperialist forces. But it is an anti imperialism of fools.
The Left has been fighting imperialist influence for a
long time, but during the
last few years it has lost the
initiative to the religious
fundamentalists who have
had more funds and
resources at their disposal.
This is the right time to
unite the human and material resources for the unity of the Left to continue the anti imperialist struggle on
more effective manner
The suicidal attack on Benazir Bhutto's rally in Karachi on October 18 was a warning note to all democratic forces, particularly the Left. It is an attack on civil liberties, right of association and assembly.
This attack is to terrify continue as MMA, they people struggling to get rid of militarism and religious fundamentalism. Such attacks are the result of a calculated game of eliminating
It is fascist tactics, and we
condemn in strongest terms. We have no other way apart from unitThe Pakistani state wanted ing ourselves to fight for our with a suicidal mission to has not gone very far.
The Awami Jamhoori Forum is taking initiatives to call more Left meeting for unity all over Punjab. One such meeting in Rawalpindi on October 20 attracting over 75 Left and progressive and
They have formed a district committee to discuss the process in detail later. Awami Jamhoori Tehreek (AJT)| Rawalpindi called this meeting on the initiative of Awami Jamhoori Forum (AJF). AJF has produced a leaflet explaining the reasons tor a greater lett unity at present time.
On October 24, AJT Punjab has called a left unity meeting in Lahore to discuss the process and plan tor tuture actions
The Tabgati Group under the leadership of Lal Khan (Ted Grant group) in association with PILER Karachi has called another Left Unity meeting November 7 in Karachi. Labour Party Pakistan is taking part in this meeting as well.
Meraj Mohammed Khan in association of Inqilabi Jamhoori Committee (Taj Marri) is calling for a new Left party in Pakistan. He is campaigning in Sind for such an initiative. Meraj Mohammed Kahn and Inqilabi Committee already part of the AJT.
Labour Party Pakistan is holding its fourth national conference in Toba Tek Singh on 9/10/11 November. LPP will hold a public rally on 10 November and most of the Left leaders will be invited to speak at the public rally and participate alliance with military regime or religious fundamentalism.
There great anti Musharaf consciousness at present in Pakistan. We must be able to attract this consciousness. We must fight against the discriminatory rule Commission that allows only graduates to contest in the elections.
We must go to the courts against this rule and get rid of it allowing our working class comrades to stand in the elections.
What we need a percentage ot votes and not lust one or two leading contestants on behalf of the whole Left. We must strive for a reasonable percentage of national votes for the candidates of Left torces
That is only possible when we have a national strategy and maximum numbers of Left candidates Pakistan.
We need a common political and economic agenda for such a Left unity that we can discuss in our meeting and come forward with proposals that could be agreed by at least a majority.
Please comment and circulate this message with your comments to as many as possible.
These are some of my initial thoughts for discussions and hopefully we can go forward on the road to unity.
Unity is strength.
Workers of the Unite! • Farooq Tariq is the General Secretary of the Labour Party Pakistan [email protected] www.laborpakistan.org www.jeddojuhd.com