Pakistan
Dictatorship attacks workers protests

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Paddy Meehan

The military dictatorship of General Musharraf in Pakistan has recently come under pressure against its bid to implement neo-liberal attacks on working class people. Members of the Socialist Movement (CWI Pakistan) have been playing an important role in assisting some recent struggles in resisting these attacks.

A demonstration of sugar mill workers against the non-payment of wages was brutally attacked by police. 45 workers were arrested and many female protesters were violently beaten. All this came at a time when the State had claimed to be allowing peaceful demonstrations. The privatised sugar industry had announced 100% increase in the price of sugar despite $140 million profit taken in just one month. Yet they still could not afford to pay their workers! The Trade Union Rights Campaign Pakistan (TURCP) organised a demonstration to ensure the abuse and violence of the authorities was highlighted and have promised to assist the workers in the battle.

Members of Socialist Movement Pakistan along with others in the Trade Union Rights Campaign Pakistan (TURCP) have also played a key role in assisting the successful campaign of 1,400 sacked postal workers to be re-instated in May. All this while struggle continues in the Habib Bank were 2,300 workers where sacked without notice.

Since last year’s devastating earthquake the Musharraf regime has pandered to US imperialism and global capitalism. This has resulted in a paltry aid package of $6.5 million from the World Bank. This figure pales into insignificance when compared to the $375 million missile system being purchased by Musharraf’s government. While Neo-liberalism on the ground has meant disastrous privatisation schemes, lower wages and increased clampdowns on trade union and civil rights.

In Faisalabad 200,000 Power Loom workers went on strike last year for better wages and conditions. Their struggle like many others shows there is a mood to fight in Pakistan but there is also the need for the working class to get organised and take on not only the regime, but capitalism as a whole.