Karachi (Staff reporter): National Trade Union Federation, Home Based Women Workers Federation, and youth organization ‘Alternate’ staged a protest rally followed by a sit-in in Karachi on Sunday evening against the government’s failure in dealing with the deteriorating economic conditions of Pakistan.
Led by Riaz Abbasi, Zehra Khan, and Aqib Hussain, the rally started from Fawara Chowk and culminated in a protest sit-in outside Karachi Press Club.
The participants of the rally carried banners and play cards inscribed with slogans against the government’s economic policies, slavery of IMF, unemployment, skyrocketed inflation, etc.
The sit-in was addressed by Karamat Ali of the National Labour Council, Nasir Mansoor of the National Trade Union, Asad Bat of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Saeed Baloch of Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum, Manzoor Rizi of the Railway Workers Union, prominent activist Wahid Baloch, Ibal and Barkat of Alternate and others.
Addressing the protest sit-in after the rally, the speakers said it’s time to boycott mainstream political parties strengthening the current exploitative system and align themselves under their leadership. A country can be taken out of the economic crises only through revolutionary endeavors of the working class.
Leaders of the working class demanded the distribution of land among landless tenants, a reduction in bureaucratic expenditure and prices of necessary items, and an end to the feudal system in the country. They also demanded social security and the provision of old age pensions; and the promotion of trade with neighboring countries.
Speakers further said economic policies based on the interests of the ruling class have turned Pakistan into a slave of international monetary organizations and powerful capitalist states. Like East India Company (EIC), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other monetary organizations are imposed on Pakistan to uphold the interests of industrially developed countries. Meanwhile, the local rulers act as viceroys of these capitalist states.
According to speakers, country can easily come out of economic crises government makes a reduction in defense and in its own unnecessary expenses.
The working class leaders said that the economic crises is a direct result of anti-people economic policies and corruption of the ruling class. These policies have led to a reduction of 60% in real income, 300% in petroleum products, 100% in necessary items including 200% increase in flour prices in few years. Similarly, electricity and gas have literally become unaffordable for people.
Following demands were made in the sit-in:
1. Bring 50% reduction in administrative and military budgets.
2. Put an end to perks and privileges enjoyed by all civil and non civil officers, judges and ministers.
3. Take plots awarded to any officials back irrespective of their respective institutions.
4. Distribute land among landless tenants and families.
5. Impose direct Tax on affluent people and class.
6. Provide subsidy on all necessary items of daily need.
7. Increase minimum salary to Rs. 50, 000.
8. Provide social security to all citizens and old age pension to elderly.
9. Establish friendly relations with all neighboring countries and promote trade with them.
10. Elements involved in murder of social and political activists in the country should be punished and brought to justice. It was also announced in the sit-in after staging protest rally that Labor Day this years will be observed as Day of Salvation from bonded labor and gender discrimination throughout the country.
Click on Neoliberal market, crises of capital and uprising to better understand the current economic crises of Pakistan as a product of global economic system.
