Lal Khan speaks in Birmingham

Lal Khan was speaking in Birmingham on June 1 at a meeting organised by the local PTUDC, where he outlined the developing crisis in Pakistan and highlighted the need for socialism as the only answer to the problems of the workers and peasants.

Starting with the events that took place in Pakistan in November 2007, our comrades from the "The Struggle" have been putting forward the idea that only with a socialist perspective can a way out of the deep political crisis be found. Comrades are fighting alongside workers and peasants for the real needs of people ‑ bread, housing and education ‑ in an objective political situation that changes from day to day.

Lal Khan International solidarity with the comrades in Pakistan is urgently needed in order to strengthen them in their fight! Following the sacking of High Court judges in November 2007 and the protests, a solidarity committee for the PTUDC was set up in Birmingham. The following is a report of a meeting organised by the committee on June 1st in Birmingham. Around 30 people were present to listen to Lal Khan who had travelled to the UK from Pakistan.

Lal Khan started out by explaining how both the economy and the institutions of the Pakistani state are currently in a deep crisis and more people than ever are living below the poverty line. After 61 years of "independence" society has not seen any progress economically, socially or politically.

The official history of the Indian subcontinent and Partition in 1947 is falsified in the schools and in the media. No mention is made of the powerful labour movement in the Subcontinent prior to Partition. However, while Gandhi led the movement for national independence, the labour movement was the real threat to the ruling class. The workers were determined to fight and a sailors' mutiny in 1946 was followed by massive strikes of railway workers and elements of the Army going over to the side of the workers. The movement would not have stopped at national independence if it had not been for the Communist Party leadership, who betrayed the movement. Following this betrayal the ruling class managed to draw a dividing line along communal issues and Pakistan was created - an artificial State! Since the national bourgeoisie of Pakistan entered the stage of history too late it has not been capable of building up the economy to this day. Instead, the bourgeoisie turned to other means like crime and the army in order to stay in power and there has never been democracy in Pakistan.

Today, more than ever, and especially after the rigging of the elections, there is a deep economic and political crisis in Pakistan (read previous articles) Again, we can see a working class willing to fight and fed up with the system. One example is the Telecommunications workers, who have entered into their 4th week of strike. A socialist revolution is the only way forward for Pakistan!

After the introductory speech, there was a lively discussion with many people from the audience taking part. One person from the audience suggested the Birmingham solidarity committee establish links with workers and students from the area. The solidarity committee asked everybody to join them in their protest in front of the Pakistan High Commission in Birmingham on June 12th at 1pm. This is a protest for the restoration of the judiciary of the High Court, which has been suspended in November 2007, and because of which there is also a protest march taking place in Islamabad on June 10th.

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