In 42 towns and cities across Pakistan the PTUDC organised a series of rallies, marches and meetings to celebrate May Day. Here we provide a general report and plenty of pictures that provide flavour of the events that took place.
On May Day 2009 the Pakistan Trade union defence Campaign (PTUDC), organised the largest ever rallies and interventions in the history of the organisation. These rallies were organised in 42 cities and towns across Pakistan in which thousands participated. A special May Day poster was flying posted in even more places throughout Pakistan. One of the most significant place was Wana, the headquarters of the Waziristan agency, the rugged region that has been portrayed by the media as the centre of the Taliban reaction and is in the grip of a ferocious civil war. The comrades splashed the PTUDC poster all over the town and more than fifty comrades held a rally in the centre of Wana to commemorate May Day in spite of all the dangers that were posed in this situation. The places where the PTUDC held rallies are the following:
Sindh Province
Karachi Rally: Karachi is the hub of industrial workers and a life line of Pakistan's economy. This year 500 workers turned out on the streets of Karachi. Starting from Steel town they chanted revolutionary slogans, they were led by comrade Riaz Lund (PTUDC National President). The rally was a living combination of ethnic harmony in a city prone to ethnic violence .In the rally there was a strong presence of the JKNSF (Jummu Kashmir National Students Federation) and BNT (Movement of Unemployed). At the end of the rally at L-Nine Market Phase II a public meeting was organised. Speaking on the occasion Zubir Rehman, Tariq Watan Yar, Akbar Memomn, Mashuk Sial, Hardil Kumar, Khalid Rafeeq, Khuda Bux Baloch and Riaz Lund strongly criticized the anti-worker policies of the current Zardari-led PPP regime. Voicing against privatisation, power shortages, price hikes, unemployment, ethnic divisions, they pledged unity amongst workers and a struggle till Socialist Victory.
Hyderbad Hyderabad: The PTUDC rally was led by veteran communist leader Jam Saqi. 200 workers attended the rally all with red banners.
Dadu: Over 200 workers, peasants and students marched in Dadu displaying red banners and placards of worker's demand on the streets
Thari Mirwah: This small town in Sindh, which has been neglected by the rulers of Pakistan depriving it of basic infrastructure, celebrated May Day with renewed vengeance. The PTUDC and BNT mobilized 100 workers and peasants for the rally.
Nawab Shah (Benazir Bhutto): Over 200 comrades marched in the small town of Qazi Amand in Nawab Shah District. Joined by workers of the Sukrand Sugar Mills they chanted slogans against the local press which had blacked out their recent struggle. They also shouted slogans against feudalism and capitalism.
Larkana: A function was organised by the PTUDC in the Chandica Medical College attended by 300 workers and students.
Tandu Muhammad Khan: Over 500 turned out in a rally co-organized by the workers' federation and the PTUDC.
Shahdadkot: The biggest ever May Day rally was organized in this northern Sindh town attended by workers from the Oil& Gas Development Cooperation and peasants. Displaying demands and slogans of Socialist revolution they marched through the town.
There were also rallies in Talhar, Mirpur Khas, Mirpur Buturo, Glulab Lagari, Juhi, Khirpur Natun Shah andnd Khirpur Mirus.
Baluchistan Province
Quetta Quetta: A rally of over 300 workers decorated with red banners and flags marched through the streets of Quetta. The rally was led by Nazar Mangal. One of the banners read "The road to emancipation from poverty, misery, exploitation, disease, and unemployment leads to Socialist Revolution". Major Trade Unions of the city also participated in this rally. And there were also rallies in Khuzdar, Mustung and Sibi
Punjab Province
Sadiqabad Sadiqabad: In the scorching heat of summer history was made. Over 2500 industrial workers filled the streets of Sadiqabad which is the home of the Chemical and Fertilizer Industry. Holding red banners and flags they chanted revolutionary and anti-privatization slogans. Attended by a mixture of old and young, they started their journey from Ghusia Chowk. Journalists of the city also joined them making their presence felt. At the end of the rally a mass public meeting was held at Shaheed Bhutto Chowk. Giving a fiery speech, Abbas Taj highlighted the daunting misery faced by the workers. He put forward the demand for Socialist Revolution through workers' unity and the overthrow of the capitalist system. Qamar Zaman outlined the strategy against privatization and assured the gathering that the PTUDC will gave the workers a leadership against this menace. Other main speakers were Choudary Ashraf, Rana Arshad Jawaed, Nawab Din Lashari, Talut Saleem Bajwa, Rowardan Ram Chohan, Sher Ali, Sajan Masheeh. The news coverage for this rally and public meeting was printed in the Daily Jang (Multan) and Express News (RY Khan) on front page of their 2nd May editions.
Rahim Yar Khan: Over 400 workers, peasants and students filled the main square in RY Khan in a public meeting organized by the PTUDC and JAAG Welfare Movement. A number of speakers spoke against privatization and the capitalist system. At the end of the meeting a rally was held in which the women's presence was felt by the passers-by which is unusual in RY Khan. Workers of the Pakistan Siriki Party joined hands with the comrades of the PTUDC against misery, exploitation and injustice.
Multan: The biggest function in Multan on May Day was organized by the PTUDC. More than 250 workers attended the seminar at the Multan Press Club with a sizeable presence of female workers. Comrade Alyas Khan chaired the meeting. In his speech he criticized the ongoing onslaught of privatization. He emphasized that revolution in Pakistan is inevitable.
Lodhran: A seminar was attended by 100 people in Lodhran. Comrade Taqi chaired the meeting which was attended by a majority of Railway workers.
Kot Addu: Over 500 workers and peasants and students made May Day a colourful agitation event in the city this year. They marched through the streets of Kot Addu chanting anti-privatization and revolutionary slogans joined by the Mazdoor Action Committee of PARCO ( Pak Arab Refinery) PEPCO (Pakistan Power Company).
Kasur: Over 100 workers attended the PTUDC rally chanting "friend of Zardari is a tyrant" and other anti-privatization slogans.
Gujranwala: Over 200, including 20 female worker of the PPP and members of the Inqlabi council and the PTUDC marched on the famous Grand Trunk Road.
Lahore: From Laxmi Chowk to the Railway Station almost 70 members of the PTUDC organized the rally to mark May Day.
Gujanwala Central Punjab
Islamabad: On 30th April 2009 the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC) organized a "Mazdoor Mela" (Workers Carnival) in I-9 Industrial Area Islamabad to pay tribute to the martyrs of Chicago who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for the their rights. The programme was attended by more than 150 workers, youth and comrades. Among the participants were present workers from Telecom Foundation, Telecom Foundation Pipe Factory, Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Post, Polyron Pipe Factory, Sabro, PFUJ (Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists) and many others from the industries in the area. Comrades form the JKNSF (Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation), BNT (Unemployed Youth Movement), PLF (People's Lawyers Forum) and YFIS (Youth For International Socialism) were also present. Before and during the programme revolutionary slogans were chanted.
Stage Secretary, comrade Sajjad from the People's Lawyers Forum started the programme with a revolutionary poem and paid tribute to the martyrs of Chicago. He said there are many ways to lead a life and one of them is to fight and struggle to change society. The martyrs of Chicago chose this path and gave their lives by which their struggle has become immortal.
This was followed by a revolutionary song by comrade Osama. Comrades Zubair Latif and Changaiz presented another revolutionary song.
The PTUDC Industrial Area Islamabad President and Telecom Foundation Workers Union Joint Secretary comrade Khawar said in his speech that the state machinery is always on the move to oppress the workers. He said the legacy of the blood that is shed in the struggle will remain for ever. He explained the problems and exploitation of workers in the Industrial area and promised that by the next programme we will double our numbers. After this a revolutionary song was sung by Abdul Sattar Tara.
Comrade Asif from the JKNSF emphasized the role of youth and conveyed the solidarity message to the workers from the JKNSF.
Comrade Fauzia Shahid from the PFUJ said in her speech that now we must not waste any opportunity, as capitalism is on its deathbed. She said that this reminds her of the spirit of the 1970s when she was young and those traditions are being resurrected once again. She mentioned that now workers cannot afford to make any mistake and negligence in their struggle. The issues of the ruling class and those of the working class are very different, they think about the Elections and being a part of the Government whereas the workers need Bread, Clothing and Shelter. Now the only way for a bright future is that of Socialism.
Comrade Sajjad Baig from the Telecom Foundation Pipe Factory who is Joint Secretary of the PTUDC Islamabad Industrial area expressed his hatred for capitalist society.
Comrade Hafeez with his musical group sang revolutionary songs in Pushto and Urdu and the participants came dancing in front of the stage filled with revolutionary vigor.
Comrade Malik Nawaz from the Railways Workers' Union said in his speech that he started his politics in this Industrial area and workers here have a great tradition of fighting for their rights. The owner of the factory which he worked for in 1975 has now 53 units and bank accounts in Hong Kong, but he could see among the audience the workers from that factory whose lives have become even more miserable. He said that both military and democratic governments are subordinate to the interests of imperialism. The NGOs are also serving the imperialists' interests and many activists from the past "Left" parties have degenerated and joined those NGOs. The workers must unite for the cause of revolution. He said that workers from the Railways are ready to fight and the Train of revolution with red flags is coming very soon to this country. He invited the workers to participate in the workers' meeting on 1st May in the Loco Shed.
The last speech was that of comrade Rana Abrar in which he said that the PTUDC held up the red flag when everyone else had lost hope in the revolution, when the Soviet Union was breaking apart and the Berlin Wall was being demolished. We have never left the struggle and we will keep on fighting till the goal of a Socialist Revolution is accomplished. He said that revolution cannot take place by a guerrilla struggle, the workers of WAPDA (Power Grid), PTCL (Telecom) and the Railways have the power to stop the system just as they did in 1969 when the workers cut off the electricity supply to army GHQ, the Secretariat and the President's House. The notion of class collaboration is false and impossible. There are 90 million unemployed youth in Pakistan and state cannot give them anything. The game of Dictatorship and Democracy is being played but we only recognize the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. He concluded by stating that the working class will always standby those people who have always struggled for them and never betrayed them and will bring about a Socialist Revolution.
A play was staged by comrade Changaiz and others in which the events of 1st May 1886 were recreated. The program was concluded with the singing of The Internationale.
Other rallies were also held in Galaywal, Jampur, DG Khan, Khanewal, Jhang and Miani (Sargodha).
Pakhtoonkha
Bannu: Over 300 workers, peasants and students attended a public meeting and rally orginised by the PTUDC, PSF, PYO and PPP in the sugar and wool producing city of Pakhtoonkha.
Dera Ismail Khan: In Gomal University a seminar was organized by the PTUDC on "The importance of May Day" attended by 60 people.
Wana: In Wana, a town devastated by the Taliban, the Pakistan Army and American Drone attacks, the PTUDC poster was displayed on the mud walls and ravaged buildings. Over 50 comrades held a May Day rally in the center of Wana.
Kashmir
Muzafarabad, Kashmir Rawala Kot: Revolutionary young stalwarts of the JKNSF and PTUDC held a rally with many red banners on display.
Muzafarabad: Over 100 people attended a rally led by comrade Rasid Shiek and Waseem Abassi.
Kohri (Neelum valley): This remote town on the edge of the Line of Control, celebrated May Day organized by the JKNSF and the PTUDC. It was the first ever such meeting in the town.
Other rallies were also held in Plundari and Kotli
Picture gallery: