Asia

Sindhi nationalism is an expression of the impasses the masses in Sindh face under the oppressive feudal-capitalist regime that dominates the whole of Pakistan. Genuine Sindhi liberation in today's context can only be achieved through socialist revolution and the unity of the workers of all nationalities. Dr Beenish Shoro looks at the Sindhi national conquest from a Marxist point of view.

In spite of being of key importance to the functioning and safety of the Pakistan railways, the workers of the Signals Department are constantly harassed and abused by the railway authorities, up to and including the threat of police measures. These workers are reaching the limit of what they can take and are now threatening strike action.

The carnage and the mayhem in Karachi on May 12 is another reminder of the rapidly deteriorating socio-economic and political situation in Pakistan. In the last seven years the quasi-military regime in Pakistan has been lurching from one crisis to another.

On the night of May 5, 2007 a cricket tournament was organized by Berozgaar Nojawaan Tehreek (BNT), in Lahore. The revolutionary speeches given during the tournament exposed the lack of facilities and poor infrastructure not only in the field of sports but in all other fields of life.

The burning mud-bowl procession of May 1 was the most glorious in the history of Kasur. It was organised by the PTUDC in collaboration with the People's Party Kasur. Workers from some twenty unions took an active part in the procession.

May Day rallies and meetings were held all across Pakistan and Kashmir earlier this week. The PTUDC and The Struggleplayed a large role in commemorating May 1st. we publish here some of the reports and photos of the magnificent mobilisation of the working class in Pakistan.

Punjab schoolteachers have launched a struggle in defence of their rights and for improved working conditions. The Punjab government has not paid the allowances announced in the last budget and are now planning to privatise the schools which were put under state control in the 1970s.

After the successful mobilisation of stationmasters at Pakistan Railways, the signal staff have taken action for the improvement of their working conditions. Monstrously exploited, and working according to pay scales which have not changed since 1974, the workers are organising to struggle for their rights.

We are making available to our readers an article written by Engels on Afghanistan 150 years ago. In spite of the years that have passed the article is still relevant today. The imperialists did not understand the situation in Afghanistan then as they continue not to understand it today.

The workers of Taunsa Barrage upheld their end of the bargain. They agreed to return to work on the promise that all of their demands would be met within 48 hours. Not only have management not met these demands, they have hired thugs to threaten the workers and PTUDC activists.

The Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign Multan held a meeting yesterday in solidarity with the Airbus workers. Participants were informed about the struggle of Airbus workers in France and other European countries, and discussed the campaign demanding the nationalisation of the company.

Maarten VH, active as a Marxist student in Belgium and now collaborating with the Editorial staff of Marxist.com, went to Pakistan recently and attended the conference of the Marxists of The Struggle. Here he gives some of his impressions about the situation in Pakistan.