May Day 2007 in Pakistan

As the contradictions within Pakistan continue to grow and the ongoing disturbances with the Chief-justice issue and the process of Talibanisation rear its ugly head, the mood of the working class is changing. This was an opportunity to celebrate May Day and give full voice to the frustrations of the masses that are being ground down by the rotten system of capitalism.

However, this is Pakistan and one of the major problems here is the different competing interests of some of the leaders of the labour movement. Like many underdeveloped countries, international NGO's operating in Pakistan have moved in and corrupted many labour leaders and therefore there is a compete lack of unity which was reflected in the large number of separate mobilisations. There were approximately 10-12 different mobilisations in Lahore alone.

Lahore

The Marxists of Pakistan were involved in two of these, the rally of the PPP and a joint rally of the PTUDC (Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign) with the BLLF Union.

The PPP rally had a large turnout in terms of numbers (around 1,300-1,500). The demonstration made its way through the streets and stopped at a central point where the local leaders of the PPP had a sound system mounted on a truck to give speeches from. It didn't go favourably for them as they were constantly drowned out by the militant chanting of the crowd below. The frustration of the leadership was quite obvious and it is quite clear that from the slogans that were raised compared to the ‘fair society' twaddle coming from the leaders, the rank and file of the party is far to the left of the leadership. This is also reflected in the more favourable response from the crowd given to the speech by Gulam Abbas, one of the most important mass leaders in Pakistan.

The joint rally of the PTUDC and the BLLF was smaller in number (300-400), but the mood here was even more militant. The demonstration was in one voice as it made its way through the main street of Lahore, Mall Road which normally has a ban on any type of rally or political activity. Both the leader of the BLLF, Gulam Fatima, and the President of the PTUDC, Manzoor Ahmed MNA PPP, gave speeches to the crowd and were interviewed by the media and both speakers were shown on national media.

We have reached a turning point in the whole political situation in Pakistan. The national coverage of the rallies throughout the country was significant and the national media paid particular attention to the fact that the PTUDC was one of the few organisations to form a national bloc and involve itself in all the major rallies throughout the country.

Earlier on the eve of May Day all newspapers had published special editions in which articles from the Struggle were published in almost every paper along with images of PTUDC rallies in the last year.

Moreover, Comrade Manzoor was invited to appear on Geo TV's famous program Capital Talk to represent the workers of Pakistan in front of the Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower.

Karachi

On May 1st, the PTUDC arranged a rally from Regal to the Press Club in solidarity with the sacrifices of the workers of Chicago more than a hundred years ago. Approximately 350 people were present.

Members of the Shoemakers Workers' Association joined us. A large number of people from the Steel Mill also joined us at Regal, most of them female teachers. They demanded that contract teachers and other workers be given permanent positions. There was extreme enthusiasm amongst the workers and youth present on the rally. The slogans were "Workers of the world unite", "Inqalab, Inqalab, Socialist Inqalab" (Revolution, Revolution, Socialist Revolution), along with many others.

PTUDC activists moved from Regal to the Press Club in a disciplined way and held some speeches there. Some of the speakers were Ali Yawar (PTUDC Organizer in Karachi), Sheikh Majeed (General Secretary Pakistan Labour Bureau Karachi), Habib-ud-din Junedi, Manzoor Razi (President of Railway Workers' Federation), Riaz Lund (PTUDC), Hameeda Ghangro (PTUDC), Iqbal Mahar (PTUDC Organizer Malir), Mohd Ahmed Warsi (PTUDC), Zahoor Khokhar, Akbar Memon, Hardil Kumar (President of the Shoemakers Workers' Association), Kaleem Shokat (Chairman JKNSF Khi) and others.

The speakers explained that the capitalist system has already lost any progressive content and that it simply creates problems for the workers and makes it difficult for them to survive. They further said that policies such as downsizing, privatization, amd liberalization are against the working class and through these policies the capitalists cannot defend themselves any more. The consciousness of the working class is rising and the time is not far off when they will repeat the history of 1968-69. We are again going to see a revolutionary uprising and the PTUDC is preparing itself to face that challenge. The rally ended up with the promise that we would continue our struggle until the Socialist Revolution.

Quetta

May Day was not celebrated in Quetta on as many marches as in previous years. The two marches were organised by APFAL and the Pakistan Workers' Federation. The biggest rally was that of the Pakistan Workers' Federation. The city was plastered red with PTUDC posters.

Rallies from different unions started arriving at the Press Club in the morning. These unions include WAPDA Hydro Union, the Agriculture union, the Agriculture Engineering union, Merk Marker workers' union, WASA employees union, Public health union, QDA employees union, Balouchistan University union, National organization of Postal employees, All Pakistan DMO's workers' union, Apco union, the Irrigation employees union, the City and Town employees' union, Jamiat Akhbar faroshan union, the Peoples' Labour Bureau, the National Rickshaw union, PWD and the PTUDC.

The main rally began at the Press Club and reached Meezan Chowkwhere and turned into a mass public meeting. In this rally women and children from the Merk Maker workers union and PTUDC were present.

Khair Muhammad, president of the PWD, chaired the mass meeting where Muhammad Lodhi of the Agriculture workers' union was the chief guest. The following labour leaders addressed the rally: Manzoor Balouch (General Secretary of the Muthadda Labour Federation), Hanif Balouch (President of the Agriculture Workers' Union), Abdul Maroof Azad (General Secretary of the Mutjadda Labour Federation), the regional organizer of the PTUDC comrade Nazar Mengal, Aziz Ullah Kakar of the Irrigation Employees' Union, Noor Muhammad (General Secretary of the WASA Employees' Union), Abdul Hayee (Vice-Chair of the WAPDA Hydro Union), Haji Ashraf of the PWD Employees' union, Lala Yusuf of the Rickshaw Union, Abdul Ghaffar, Hassan Balouch, Ramzan Achakzai and Khan Zaman of the QDA.

Thari Meer Wah

The PTUDC, the Unemployed Youth Movement (BNT) and the Peoples' Workers' Union organised a rally in Thari Meer Wah on May Day. The rally started from Purana Naka in which participants held placards and banners in support of the martyrs of Chicago. Comrades Wafa Mujeeb, Fayyaz Shar, Waqar Ismail, Zaheer Abbas, Qamar Peerzada, Deedar Shar and comrade Mumtaz Waseem addressed the rally and said that today only a socialist revolution can solve the problems of the masses.

Johi

Taluka Johi is situated in the west of Sindh and received the name "Little Moscow" in the 1980s. On May 1 the PTUDC organized a rally, which started at Makhdoom Biwal Park. The working class came out in big numbers and after marching around the whole town the rally finished up at Makhdoom Bilawal Park. More than 2500 people were present at the rally to celebrate May Day and to salute the martyrs of Chicago.

Multan

In Multan, the PTUDC organized two different programs and also actively participated in the People's Labour Bureau (Pakistan People's Party's labor wing) meeting. Comrades Ilyas Khan and Asad Pitafi of the PTUDC were among the speakers at the PLB's. The mood on the stage and amongst the audience was interestingly polarized between the speeches of the mainstream leadership and those of the worker's leadership. There was a clear expression of the resentment building amongst the working class, who are seeking a genuine radical political programme. The PTUDC also organized a meeting in Nai Zindagi Hospital Lawn, where 70 active trade unionists of the public and private sector participated in the meeting entitled "The world labour movement and Pakistan". Akram Noori of the Power Looms Association, Tahir Khakwani from the Income Tax Department, Tariq Chaaudhary of WAPDA, Dr. Abdullah of the PTUDC/PMA, Ishaq from Sui Northern Gas, Mujahid Pasha of WASA, and Nazar Khokhar of the PIA were among the speakers, while the renowned poet Mumtaz Athar delivered his revolutionary poems. After a debate on the agenda a proposal was presented by Asad Pitafi of the PTUDC which was unanimously agreed upon by participants. The proposal called for the establishment of a Joint Action Committee to unite all working class organisations in the region. The proposed action committee includes 18 members representing every sector and it will meet fortnightly. It will make sure that all workers organisations are contacted regarding struggles and strikes etc. The action committee will hold its first meeting on May 11, 2007.

Lodhran

Another PTUDC meeting was held at the Press Club in Lodhran, a city 60 km from Multan.

Comrade Ilyas Khan chaired the meeting of 30 workers and activists. It was the very first time that PTUDC had organized such a meeting in this city. Dr Taqi, Dr Yasir, Dr Tahir, Rana Ikram Advocate, master Ilahi Bukhsh, Rao Ismail Advocate, Rehman Chughtai, Akhtar Mehmood, Rao Rafeeq, Gulfam Mustafa, Mubashar Lodhi and Shafiq Almas addressed the meeting. The participants agreed to continue and expand PTUDC activities in the region.

Rahim Yar Khan

A mass meeting was organized by the PTUDC in the city centre at the main railway station. More than 300 peasants, workers, students and labour leaders participated in the meeting. Comrade Kajal opened the meeting with a revolutionary poem. Javed Gujjar, Member of the Punjab Assembly was the chief guest while the district president of the Peoples' Labour Bureau, Comrade Haider Chughtai chaired the meeting.

Amongst the speakers were Mehboob Khan, General Secretary of the APCA, Rahm yar Khan, Amant Ali of Rickshaw Union, Shaukat Ali, Mazhar Chattha of the Primary Teachers' Association, Akram Bhatti of the PPP, Ajmal Mirza, Azim Solangi, Sher Channa, Amir Nadim Advocate, Mahmood ul Hassan, Fayaz Khan, Amin Khan, Zahid Iqbal, Dr. Iqbal, Liaqat Randhawa, Umair Yusaf of the BNT, Sajid Feroz, and Hasnain Shah.

After the meeting a rally was in the city centre in which placards and banners against imperialism and the anti-labour policies of the Musharraf regime were condemned.

Sadiq Abad

More than 500 workers, 50 motorbikes and 100 Auto Raksha were present on the May Day rally in Sadiq Abad. The rally began at the office of Provincial Highways with everyone holding red flags. There were also revolutionary banners with the demands of the workers. The rally arrived at the main entrance of the city (Ghosia Chowck), where 100 Rikshaw drivers joined up with the rally.

The participants of the rally belonged to the main industries of the area such as the Mazdoor Union (CBA), the Fauji Fertilizer Company, Al-Sadaqat Employes Union (CBA) United Suger Mills, Data Steel Mills, Hydro Electric Power Central Union, Multan Electric Power Company, Pakistan Telecommunications Limited, Inqlabi Reksha Union, the Sanitation Workers' Union, Berozgar Nojwan Tehreek (BNT), the Peoples' Student Federation, Itehad Union Loading Grain Market, Pentir Union, the Brickworkers Union, the Shelterless peoples of Awami Colony, the Peoples' Labour Bureau, three Members of the Punjab Provincial Assembly (Mian Aziz Aslam Sheikh PP297, Javeed Hassan Dad Gujjar PP293 and Mian Aslam PP289) and the Divisional Coordinator of the Pakistan Peoples' Party Bahawalpur Division, were also with the rally.

The rally arrived via Hospital Road and Railway Road. All along the way red flags were displayed on all the streetlights. The city was completely red, as it was covered with flags and PTUDC posters. Throughout the rally and the public meeting the workers chanted revolutionary slogans. The public meeting was held on main chowck of the city on Railway Road. Shahid Azir was the MC. Qamar uz Zaman Khan, Irfan Abdullah Guggar, Mian Aziz Aslam Sheikh, Chacha Lahori, Nawab Din Lashari, Abdul Wahid Nonari, Ch.Arshad, Abas Taj, KhawarBajwa, Nadeem But, Sadiq Maseeh, Javeed Langah and Molana Abdul Rouf Rabani delivered speeches during the public meeting. This was one of the most successful May Day activities organised by the PTUDC in Sadiq Abad. During the public meeting 23 resolutions and demands were passed by the participants. The morale of the workers was very high.

RajanPur

On May Day a mass meeting was organized in Rajan Pur. The chief guests were Faheem Jaffer of the Pakistan Peoples' Party along with the district President of the Peoples' Labour Bureau, Khalil Khan Buzdar, Farooq Thaeem and the General Secretary of the Peoples' Party, Abdul Rauf Lund Advocate.

A large number of workers from the railways, WAPDA, as well as the teachers participated along with peasants and students.

The speakers expressed solidarity with the workers of the world and highlighted the significance of May Day. Some of the speakers were Prince Iqbal, Najaf Mazari, M. Jaffer, Hafiz Zahoor Marha, Asim Chandio, Munawar Rahi, Qadeer Lashari, Asad Amin Gopang, Kasoor Dareshak, and Akhtar Gopang Advocate.

After the meeting a rally was held which started at the bus stand and ended at chowk Allah Bad. The workers raised many revolutionary slogans during the rally.

Okara

Comrades from the PTUDC organized a meeting in Okara to celebrate May Day along with Okara Labour Front. Comrade Dr. Fazal of the Labour Front opened the meeting while comrade Abdul Majeed explained the historical significance of the day with reference to Pakistan's political history. Nearly 50 participants were present in the hall. Other speakers included Comrade Saleem, Teddy and Baba Jee.

Rawalpindi

At 10 am workers began gathering at the Rawalpindi Press Club. Very quickly they began by chanting slogans such as "down with privatisation", "no to contract work".

Within a short space of time hundreds of workers had gathered outside the Press Club where many different union leaders delivered their speeches and demanded that the government withdraw the Finance Bill which would see working hours increased from 8 to 12 hours per day. The workers also demanded that IRO 2002 be immediately withdrawn along with all other reactionary labour laws. A massive rally was organised by the All-Pakistan Confederation, the PTUDC and the BNT. The workers took up the cry of revolutionary slogans and when the rally come upon Murree Road some government agents who were carrying posters of Musharraf attacked the rally because worker were

protesting against the brutal laws of Musharraf regime. Armed agents also injured one comrade but the rally remained peaceful. A number of workers' leaders delivered speeches such as Akram Bunda (PTV), Ali Mardan (Attak Oil Refinery), Nazar

Hussian Shah (Murree Brewery), Zafar Ullah Niazi (WAPDA), Malik Fateh Khan (WAPDA), Irshad (WAPDA/PTUDC), Yasir Khaliq (BNT), Malik Maqbool Hussian Awan (PTCL), Shoukat Satti (PTCL), Akleem Khan (OGDC), Raja Kayum (Peoples' Labour Brewery), Aman Ullah (CDA), Kabir Khan (PTUDC/PTCL), Zahoor Awan, Saf Ullah Khataq (Railways), C. R. Shamsi (PFUJ), Fousia Shiad (PFUJ), and Shabana (Teachers' Association).

Attock

This was the first May Day celebrated in Attock since 1979. Workers and youth from the PWD workers' confederation, the railways union, WAPDA, the highway workers' confederation, OGDC labour union, Muttahad Mehnat Kush Mahaz, the PTUDC, the BNT and the PSF participated in large numbers.

The chief guest at the meeting was the General Secretary of the PWD workers' confederation, Riaz Bhatti, while Rana Liaqat Ali Khan of the Muttahda Mehnat Kush Mahaz chaired. The MC was Comrade Changaiz Malik.

The speakers included the chairman of the PWD workers' confederation, Manzoor Hussain, Rana Ikram from the railways, Awal Khan Vice-Chair of the PWD, Comrade Ijaz Saqi of the OGDC, M. Hanif of the Provincial Building PWD, Comrade Parvaiz Malik of the PTUDC as well as chief guest Riaz Bhatti.

After the meeting a rally was held which started from Ziarat park and after passing through from the city ended at Fawara Chowk.

Peshawar

In Peshawar the PTUDC organized a rally along with the Peoples' Labour Bureau and the Peoples' Youth Organization in the heart of the city. Just two days before May Day a bomb exploded in Charsadda, a city in Pakhtoonkhwa, which created an atmosphere of fear and terror. However, workers from across the province gathered in Peshawar setting aside all fears. Leaders from the Peoples' Party such as Qamar Abbas, Ayub Shah, Gohar Inqlabiand Khursheed Khan attended the rally while comrade Lal Khan came from Lahore to attend the rally.

Ayesha Gulela from Waziristan spoke at the start of the rally and condemned the brutal policies of imperialism and the Musharraf regime which are responsible for killing thousands in Afghanistan and Waziristan. She highlighted the historical role of May Day and said that the PPP is the only party that has stood for the rights of workers in Pakistan.

Comrades from Malakand, Bannu, Mardan, Charsadda and Wazirstan travelled a long way to attend this rally and express their solidarity with the martyrs of Chicago.

Workers from the Bhatta Khasht union, the Clerks' Association and the United Employees' Union attended the rally.

At the end of the rally Comrade Lal Khan also addressed the rally and said that this rally proves that there is no fundamentalism here but only revolutionary forces. He said that the first revolution in the South Asia was carried out in Afghanistan and that this rally was the starting point of another revolution.

The slogan which was most popular among the workers was "No to religious war, No to Nationalist War, Only class war."

Rawlakot

The PTUDC celebrated May Day with vigour and enthusiasm in Rawlakot. A big rally was held which started from the Post-Graduate Law College in Rawlakot at midday. Students from the JKNSF and JKPSF participated in large numbers along with workers from the Transport Union, the Foresters' Association and the Post Office.

After marching around the city the rally stopped at Munir Chowk where a mass meeting was held. Speakers at the meeting told the workers that now the time that we should spread the ideas of revolutionary Marxism and overthrow this brutal capitalist system.

Raja Ejaz advocate, Halim Sajid, Amjad Shahswar, Suhail Rafiq, Khalid Rafiq, Imtiaz Sadiq, Babrik Khan and Khalil Babar were the main speakers at the rally.

The participants then went to the meeting organised by All-Pakistan Clerks' Association and expressed solidarity with their cause. The main speakers at this meeting were the workers and labour leaders from Paramedical Association, the PWD workers' union, the transport union and representatives of APCA along with comrade Shoaib Sham, Babar Iqbal and Raja Ejaz, advocate and member of the PTUDC.

Kotli

A meeting was organized by the PTUDC in Kotli. Workers and students from the Teachers' Association, the Journalists' Associations and student organizations such as the JKNSF and JKPSF participated in the meeting.

A rally was also organized which started from Shaheed Chowk and after passing along various roads ended at Sarda View Hotel where a meeting was held. Comrade Shakoor was the MC for the meeting while the chief guest was Comrade Rashid Naeem of the Teachers' Association. Comrade Faran Mushtaq, president of the JKNSF at Kotli University chaired the meeting. Among the speakers were Comrade Mumtaz Chahudary from the Teachers' Association, Zulfiqar Malik (journalist), comrade Yasir and Shehzad Gulshan from the PSF, comrade Nauman Ashraf, Atif Chauhdary and Naveed Latif of the JKNSF.

Sadhnoti/Plandri

A meeting was organized by the PTUDC here to celebrate May Day. Workers from the Clerks' Association, the Paramedical Association, the Department of Public Works, Teachers' Association, the Bar Association, the Sweepers' Association and students from various student organizations participated in large numbers.

Comrade Riaz, Comrade Zaheer, Comrade Mushtaq Shaheen, Comrade Rauf and other speakers addressed the participants and expressed solidarity with the workers of the world.

Bagh

A May Day meeting was held in Bagh in which large numbers of workers and students participated and expressed solidarity with the cause of the Chicago martyrs. Comrade Saeed of the Clerks' Association explained the crisis of the capitalist system and said that only a socialist revolution can solve the problems of the working class.

Muzaffarabad

The PTUDC along with the JKNSF and the BNT organized a mass meeting in Muzaffarabad. The revolutionary rally was the most important event of the day. The rally started at Garhi Duppatta at 10 am and after travelling a distance of 25 kilometres arrived at Muzaffrabad where workers and youth from the Neelam Valley, Khawra and Muzaffrabad City were waiting to meet the rally.

Soon after the rally started to move towards the city and ended at Upper Adda. The speakers at the rally included Shujaat Kazmi from the BNT, Wasim Abbasi, Haider Kazmi, Ishtiaq Mughal, Ibrar Khwaja, Amir Farooq, Shujaat Abbas, Nazim Abbasi all from the JKNSF and Atiq Ahmed Khan from the BNT.

Nasir Awan, from the JKPPP, Ishtiaq Ahmed Mir from the PNP, Rashid Naqvi, Abdul Hameed Awan and Dr. Abdul Wahid of the PPP also addressed the rally.

Kot Addu

In Kot Addu a seminar was organized by the PTUDC to celebrate May Day. The topic of the seminar was "The message of May Day is the way forward towards socialism". Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah of the Hydro-Electric Central Labour Union of KAPCO chaired the meeting while comrade Tasneem Chishti was the MC.

The speakers included Comrade Tariq of the PYO, Comrade Basit of the PSF, Ghaznfar Bukhari of the PPP, Ghzanfar Niazi of the APCA, Ziaz Hussain Bhora and Sajjad Hussain Shah. At the end of the meeting Comrade Shehryar summed up the seminar by saying that once again the spirit of the martyrs of Chicago was needed to overthrow this brutal system and carry out the socialist revolution.

After the meeting a rally was held from Railway Station Road in which participants were holding banners and placards against the brutal anti-labour laws Such as IRO 2002, 27 B and 2A, which intend to crush the labour movement in Pakistan.

Kasur

A large torch lit rally was held on the night of April 20 in Kasur to celebrate May Day. Comrade Manzoor Ahmed led the rally of nearly 5 thousand people. At the end of the rally he addressed the workers and peasants gathered at the rally and said that this May Day reminds us that the only way forward for the working class is through a revolution, which in 21^st century is only possible through socialism.