An Election pretense
An election is taking place in Faisalabad for Punjab Assembly today. There are three more bye elections in other areas of Punjab. All are taking place after the resignations of the members of parliament due to their fake degrees of graduation submitted to Election Commission during the 2008 general election. It took two years before the Supreme Court took up the cases and several of these accused opted to resign instead of fighting their cases.
Two of those who resigned are contesting again. A natural division of these two is shared by the two parties of the rich, the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz. Ajmal Asif contesting from Faisalabad is from PMLN and Jamshed Dasti from PPP. Both of them are allowed by the courts to contest against. What a mockery of the justice. They resigned from their seats because they had cheated the Election Commission and the people in general. The cheaters are contesting again because at present the condition for the illegibility of a candidate to be a graduate is gone.
This is just one aspect of these bye elections. The elections are contested every where with full state sponsorship of the candidates from the respective governing political parties. The rich candidates are violating all the code of conduct that Election Commission has laid down for candidates before the elections.
Prime Minister Gilani has addressed public rallies in Vihari and Muzhafar Ghar districts in support of the PPP candidates. He has announced several development schemes for those districts as part of their election strategy. The EC code of conduct prohibits a candidate or a party to announce any development scheme, subscription or donation to an individual or an institute to be announced. The Governor of Punjab, a PPP person announced several such schemes in Faisalabad. An army of provincial ministers both from PPP and PMLN are permanently based in the different constituencies where bye elections are taking place offering the locals for all sort of state benefits once they will vote for their candidate.
Both parties have to do this mal practice because they politics have not much to offer to people. State patronization of a particular candidate is very visible in these bye elections.
However, it is the general practices of PPP and PMLN candidates that is making these elections as a farce and pretense. Winning the election at all cost is the only solution to their feudal ego. They are spending money like anything. The EC code of conduct prohibits a candidate not to spend more than 1.5 million Rupees in the case of National Assembly and less than a million Rupees for provincial elections.
I have been several times to Faisalabad to campaign for Labour party Pakistan candidate Mian Abdul Qayum. The money spent by Ajmal Asif, the fake degree holder and a candidate of PMLN is by any mean in billions and not in millions. His massive colour banners, hoardings, posters, stickers, T shirts and other advertising material have no match to the limitation of election expenditure. All of these advertising materials is not according the sizes that have been printed in the code of conduct booklet of the Election Commission.
But this is not his main spending. Teams of his supporters who are mainly the textile mill owners are visiting working class areas of constituencies and offering them cash amount of 3000 to 10,000 depending on votes of a family. They have Quran in their hand for an oath to be administered that they will vote for Mian Ajmal.
Election Commission of Pakistan has never taken any notice of over expenditure in their whole history. For them this might be a minor election irregularity, there are other massive ones to deal with. By allowing the rich candidate to use capital as the base of the vote, the Election Commission becomes a party in favour of the rich.
The workers of the textile factories and power looms have been threatened to loose their job if they vote for LPP candidate. A capitalist class is acting as a class in this constituency. They know if LPP candidate gets even any reasonable votes, it will start a new era of politics in Pakistan. It seems that there is absolute no shortage of resources for this representative of PMLN for this bye elections.
There are over 100 gum men around him when he moves in the constituency. This is total breach of the EC code of conduct. The open exhibition of the arms is a direct threat to the peace of these elections. The gun men arms are itself an act of canvassing on behalf of the candidates of the rich parties.
Ajmal Asif , the PMLN candidate is a declared proclaimed offender in a murder and attempt of murder case. He was involved in killing of an industrial worker and injuring several when they tried to form a trade union in 2008. He is nominated by a political party PMLN, that has advocated a rule of law and for an independent judiciary. What a respect for judiciary, as they declare a person proclaimed offender and PMLN nominate him to contest elections on its behalf.
The PPP federal government has gone even further than PMLN in these violations of EC code of conduct. In almost every village, they development work to lay down the gas pipe lines has started when the lection schedule was announced. It stoped yesterday on 14 May, ad ay before poling. If you vote for PPP, the pipe line work will be completed, if you do not, the digging of soul will remain the same and dust will be every where, is the hidden message. So is the case of road constructions. It is left uncompleted and will be done if you vote. It is dirtiest game by a party that claims to be “Peoples” party. It is not “Peoples” party but a party of the crooks and schemers for the bosses.
The PPP activists are distributing the so-called Benazhir Income Support Scheme farms and bank cheque to poor women. The BISS aims at providing Rupees one thousand a month to the poor of the poor section. But World Bank sponsored scheme is been used every where by PPP as an election incentive.
The PPP elections campaign in Faisalabad is been supported by active participation of Faryal Talpur, sister of presedient Zardari, The governor of Punjab, the minister of natural resources and petroleum, Federal textile minister and several other ministers.
The capitalist democracy is been exposed in classical terms as a politics of the few for the few rich. We have been offered an election to choose who will exploit us for the next three years.
LPP is contesting against the two governments and not against the candidates of the two political parties. On one side, the LPP activists are sleeping on rough floors after campaigning door to door, and on the other side the supporters of PPP and PMLN are having their best lunches, dinners and rides on the most expensive luxury land crusers and other massive jeeps and cars. The LPP candidate has one car to campaign while the PPP and PMLN candidates have countless transport available both private and government one. The LPP candidate is taking care of all aspect of EC code of conduct, while the two candidates of PPP and PMLN are violating every aspect of that.
Whatever the results are today, the working class in Faisalabad industrials suburbs will not be the same. There is growing consciousness that there is Labour candidate in this area. Everyone knows that we are in the field. Over 10,000 workers participated in our election rallies. Countless poems have been written in praise of our election symbol Apple (Seeb). Our candidate Mian Abdul Qayum and comrades of LPP from other areas have campaigned day and night. Labour Qaumi Movement, the labour organization that Mian Qayum heads, has become a household name in Faisalabad.
This is not the end of the politics; it is the beginning of our new era. This is the beginning of a working class politics on a platform of working class party. Most of the Left parties and groups have supported us. They have come to campaign for us that include Workers Party of Pakistan and Awami Jamhori Forum in particular. The election results will be announced this evening and hopefully we will not be at the bottom end but among the top four out of 17 candidates.
Farooq Tariq
spokesperson
Labour Party Pakistan
Faisalabad Election Update: 12 May
Dear all SPN members,
Thousands of workers are attending the election meetings and rallies in Faisalabad to show their support for Mian Abdul Qayum. Mian Qayum is contesting a bye election for Punjab Assembly constituency 63 Faisalabad on the nomination of Labour Party Pakistan. He is chairman of Labour Qaumi Movement, a labour organization that has organized thousands of textiles and power looms workers in the third largest city of Pakistan.
The other 17 contestant include candidates from Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League and National Muslim League. The Governor of Punjab who belongs to PPP spoke in a public rally on 10 May and announced several development schemes for the constituency in sheer violation of the code of conduct of Election Commission of Pakistan.
Labour Party Pakistan spokesperson addressed a press conference in Lahore on 10 May to expose the election irregularities. Here is what he said at the press conference
“This is to draw your attention towards massive violations of election rules, code of conduct and democratic ethics by the candidates of PML-N, PPP and National Muslim League during the on-going election campaign in the bye elections of PP 63 Faisalabad. While candidate of Labor Party Pakistan (LPP) is the only one who is following the election rules and code of conduct.
We request you visit PP-63 and observe the blatant violations of the code of conduct by PPP candidate Rana Aftab , PML-N candidate Ajmal Asif and NML candidate Amjad Warriach.
Though election rules have clear directions regarding sizes of posters, leaflets, banners and hoardings but the above-mentioned candidates of rich parties have no respect for the code of conduct. They have installed huge and expansive hoardings in bazaars, roads and chowks. Similarly they have covered the entire constituency with jumbo size colorful banners. This blatant violation is not only an ugly slap on the face of election commission but also a violation of legal right LPP candidate Mian Qayyum, contesting from this constituency.
According to election rules, with the announcement of the election, nobody whatsoever can announce any grant, project or subscription of any sort for the concerned constituency. Contrary to this PPP candidate Rana Aftab has openly announced Sui Gas scheme and started development work in the constituency. This is a clear violation of election rules.
Code of conduct also forbids ministers, advisors, governors, chief ministers, and state and government officials to visit the constituency under election process. But PPP senior minister Raja Riaz with state protocol is visiting the constituency and convincing the voters to vote for PPP. Besides this Benazir Income Support Program funds are being misused in the constituency to bribe women voters. We demand an inquiry into this matter.
According recent Supreme Court observation the PML-N candidate Ajmal Asif does not qualify to contest the election on basis of fraud as his degree was declared bogus by the court. Election Commission of Pakistan has issued clear directions in this regard. We demand ban on Ajmal Asif in the light of SC directions. Besides this Ajmal Asif was found distributing cash among women on 8 May. This is not first time for him to do this illegal practice. He is much known for bribing voters in previous elections as well. We urge EC to take serious notice and follow the law.
Code of Conduct does not allow more than two body guards for candidates but NML candidate Amjad Warriach and the two candidates from PMLN and PPP are trampling this rule. They are moving with dozens of body guards creating terror in the constituency. Immediate action be taken against them.
PMLN candidate is a declared proclaimed offender in a murder and attempt of murder case. He was charged of murdering a laborer Mohammed Ajmal on 24th June 2008 and injuring several while the workers were trying to form a union at his factory called Pehlwan Textile Saddar. It is unfortunate that Mian Nawaz Sharif has compromised with Forward Block and all their members have been promised election nominations. PMLN wants to keep it promise and they have no regard for those who have been victims of gangsterism of persons like Ajmal Asif. We want Mian Nawaz Sharif to cancel Ajmal Asif nomination.
We want to thanks Workers party Pakistan of Abid Hasan Minto and Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf to lend their support for Labour Party Pakistan candidate. LPP is fighting the elections against all odds but thousands of workers are attending our public rallies and new wave of revolutionary spirit is been manifested in the election campaign of Mian Abdul Qayum chairman Labour Qaumi Movement. It is beginning of a new era where smaller parties are attracting big numbers to their public meetings and also receiving votes. The election of Mian Qayum is an other indication of the changing trends of Pakistan parliamentary politics.
Farooq Tariq
Spokesperson Labour Party Pakistan
Faisalabad: A Press Conference to expose election irregularities
Dear SPN members,
Today I spoke to a well attended press conference at Lahore Press Club. Almost all the main stream media representatives were there. Over 40 journalists were keen to hear our side of the story about the malpractices carried out by the parties of the capitalists during the election campaign in Faisalabad bye elections for Punjab assembly.
We presented several documents that showed the nominee of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz was a proclaimed offender and is facing charges of murder and attempt of murder. “How come the PMLN, a party claiming to fight for justice and independent judiciary nominate a person involved in the murder of an industrial worker who demanded trade union rights at his textile factory” I asked during the conference. “All our main contenders are using state resources to favor their candidates. It is a Competition between Labour Party Pakistan against the federal and Punjab government and not against the PPP and PMLN. We want media to take notice of all the irregularities during the election campaign”. I commented.
Yousaf Baluch chairman National Trade Union Federation, Naeem Shakir deputy secretary Workers Party Pakistan, Baba Jaan member Federal Committee LPP, Qalandar Memon editor Naked Punch and Syeda Deep of Institute of Secular and Peace Education were sharing the platform.
Here is the text of our press Conference
Dear journalists,
This is to draw your attention towards massive violations of election rules, code of conduct and democratic ethics by the candidates of PML-N, PPP and National Muslim League during the on-going election campaign in the bye elections of PP 63 Faisalabad.
While candidate of Labor Party Pakistan (LPP) is the only one who is following the election rules and code of conduct.
We request you visit PP-63 and observe the blatant violations of the code of conduct by PPP candidate Rana Aftab, PML-N candidate Ajmal Asif and NML candidate Amjad Warraich.
Though election rules have clear directions regarding sizes of posters, leaflets, banners and hoardings but the above-mentioned candidates of rich parties have no respect for the code of conduct. They have installed huge and expansive hoardings in bazaars, roads and chowks. Similarly they have covered the entire constituency with jumbo size colorful banners.
This blatant violation is not only an ugly slap on the face of election commission but also a violation of legal right LPP candidate Mian Qayum, contesting from this constituency.
According to election rules, with the announcement of the election, nobody whatsoever can announce any grant, project or subscription of any sort for the concerned constituency. Contrary to this PPP candidate Rana Aftab has openly announced Sui Gas scheme and started development work in the constituency. This is a clear violation of election rules.
Code of conduct also forbids ministers, advisors, governors, chief ministers, and state and government officials to visit the constituency under election process. But PPP senior minister Raja Riaz with state protocol is visiting the constituency and convincing the voters to vote for PPP. Besides this Benazir Income Support Program funds are being misused in the constituency to bribe women voters.
We demand an inquiry into this matter.
According recent Supreme Court observation the PML-N candidate Ajmal Asif does not qualify to contest the election on basis of fraud as his degree was declared bogus by the court. Election Commission of Pakistan has issued clear directions in this regard. We demand ban on Ajmal Asif in the light of SC directions. Besides this Ajmal Asif was found distributing cash among women on 8 May. This is not first time for him to do this illegal practice. He is much known for bribing voters in previous elections as well. We urge EC to take serious notice and follow the law.
Code of Conduct does not allow more than two body guards for candidates but NML candidate Amjad Warraich and the two candidates from PMLN and PPP are trampling this rule. They are moving with dozens of body guards creating terror in the constituency. Immediate action be taken against them.
PMLN candidate is a declared proclaimed offender in a murder and attempt of murder case. He was charged of murdering a laborer Mohammed Ajmal on 24th June 2008 and injuring several while the workers were trying to form a union at his factory called Pehlwan Textile Saddar. It is unfortunate that Mian Nawaz Sharif has compromised with Forward Block and all their members have been promised election nominations. PMLN wants to keep it promise and they have no regard for those who have been victims of gangsterism of persons like Ajmal Asif. We want Mian Nawaz Sharif to cancel Ajmal Asif nomination.
We want to thanks Workers party Pakistan of Abid Hasan Minto and Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf to lend their support for Labour Party Pakistan candidate. LPP is fighting the elections against all odds but thousands of workers are attending our public rallies and new wave of revolutionary spirit is been manifested in the election campaign of Mian Abdul Qayum chairman Labour Qaumi Movement. It is beginning of a new era where smaller parties are attracting big numbers to their public meetings and also receiving votes. The election of Mian Qayum is an other indication of the changing trends of Pakistan parliamentary politics.
Farooq Tariq
spokesperson
Labour Party Pakistan
A Workers election Campaign against feudal and capitalists
On 1st may 2010, Over 5000 industrial workers participated in an election public meeting at Suddar in Faisalabad and they were full of revolutionary zeal. The class conscious was at it best. The high point of the rally was towards the end when a finance appeal by Mian Qayum, the candidate of Labour Party Pakistan in the bye election for a Punjab Assembly seat, and me raised 13000 Rupees (US$ 160). Workers came up with Rupees five, ten and fifty notes of Rupee. The appeal came after Mian Qayum said in his speech that parties of the rich are wondering about the financing of my elections because I am a worker. He said that they also doubt about my election campaign and are alleging that some intelligence agencies are funding my campaign. “I want to tell them that here are my agencies, sitting in front of me in thousands who are behind my campaign". Here I got up and gave Rupees 500 for the campaign and appealed to every on to donate with a slogan that we will give note (rupees notes) and vote. Then, started a spontaneous response that was not witnessed by many for years.
Later, a workers commented to me that LPP reviving PPP seventies revolutionary traditions.
Earlier, renowned Punjabi poet Baba Najmi thrilled the crowd by his revolutionary poems. I spoke about the arguments of PPP candidate contesting against us. The PPP candidate is appealing to the voters that if he is elected, he will definitely be a provincial minister and then he is in a better position to solve the problems. I said that we know how much miseries these ministers have brought to the lives of peoples and we know it for sure that another minister means more problems for the workers.
I also took up the case of collaboration of PPP and PMLN and said that here is this constituency the ruling class is fighting each other to win this seat but at national level, they are united on privatization, new liberal agenda and imperialist attacks in tribal areas. Fortunately, here in this constituency only one candidate from working class, so vote for him.
I spoke about the rising price hike, unemployment and no wage increase. Very good response and slogans were raised again and again by the crowed. I spoke of the challenges to the working class and an opportunity to make a difference.
Mian Qayum said that he is poor and a worker but not a weak person. We know how to deal the gangsters. Workers are with us and our seven year struggle has brought positive results for the workers. We have formed unions and will do so in future as well. He said he is contesting election with an aim of workers mp on a workers wage.
Comrade Arif from Workers Party Pakistan gave a message of Abid Hassan Minto, president WPP who had announced in a May Day rally in Faisalabad earlier on the day that they will fully support LPP candidate from this constituency.
This was one of the memorable meetings that have brought a revolutionary spirit to many. The meeting place was jam packed all the time. This was also the largest election rally so far in this constituency.
Can we win the seat? It is very difficult to say despite the massive rally today. The parties of the rich will use all the state and private power to win the seat. It is bye election and also a matter of prestige for PPP and PMLN. But the rally has shown that were in the race and with a good numbers. It has shown that we are here to stay.
Industrial workers are on the road in a Faisalabad suburb Punjab Assembly constituency. They are using one car, over a dozen motor cycles, many on cycles and on foot to campaign for Mian Abdul Qayum. He is contesting for a seat in Punjab Assembly vacated by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz. The PMLN candidate had used a fake degree to prove that he has cleared graduation, a condition to contest election in 2008 general elections. When challenged in Supreme Court of Pakistan last month about his degree, Ajmal Asif, member Punjab Assembly (MPA) opted to resign.
This fraudulent person is once again contesting election on the nomination of PMLN, a party who claimed to be championed of Jihad against corruption and for an independent judiciary.
Mian Abdul Qayum is a workers leader of power looms and textile workers in Faisalabad, the third largest city of Pakistan. A member of Federal Committee of Labour Party Pakistan, Mian Abdul Qayum is been nominated by LPP to contest this bye election.
Overall, 17 candidates are in the contest including Pakistan People’s Party, National Muslim League and several independent candidates. The total registered votes in the constituency are 119,439. During the general election of 2008, 61 percent went to the poles to cast their votes. The winning candidate was Mohammed Asif Ajmal of Pakistan Muslim League Q, (Musharaf supported). He got 29413 votes. He later shifted his affiliation to PMLN. Pakistan People’s Party candidate Rana Aftab lost the seat in a close contest by just 400 votes. He is currently president of PPP in Punjab and was elected three times form this constituency earlier. Rana Aftab is again contesting this time again.
There are 42 villages and 10 union councils in this PP 63 constituency of Punjab Assembly. Around 14000 industrial workers are believed to be working in different textile and power looms factories in this constituency. Labour Qaumi Movement, a labour organization started work in this area in 2007 and has led many struggles of the workers for decent wage, conditions, social security cards and an end of bonded labour successfully. Mian Abdul Qayum is chairman of this LQM and a leading member of LPP.
The LPP candidate is contesting on a revolutionary programme. The main campaign is around two issues, the price hike and load shedding of electricity. The campaign is centered on a class appeal of workers fighting the feudal lords, gangsters and capitalists. There is long history of enmity of two different tribes in this constituency. The PMLN candidate represents one tribe and the candidate of National Muslim League, who is also a former Member of Parliament represent the other group. They both have killed dozens of persons in the ongoing feud between the two groups.
Women workers are in the lead of this campaign to get one worker elected to a parliament dominated by feudal lords, capitalists and their representatives. A group of 10 women are working round the clock to knock every door to present a leaflet and a poster of Mian Abdul Qayum. The leaflet contains the programme and demands a minimum wage of 15000, a minimum 8000 rupees unemployment benefit for all adult unemployed, no to imperialist aggression and bombing in tribal areas of Pakistan, social security cards for every industrial worker, end of discrimination against women workers and for a united fight of workers and peasants against the PMLN and PPP leaders.
During the first 10 days of the campaign, 10 public meetings, 35 corner meetings and a door to door campaign of all 42 villages of the constituency has been organized. In contrast to rich parties’ leaders, LPP candidate is moving around in the company of one car and scores of motorbikes and cycles. The PPP and PMLN candidates are normally with over 70 big cars and vans protected by a large number of policemen and with their own armed security guards.
Despite all this, two public meetings on 25th April in the village Daroran showed the contrast. One was organized by PMLN and the other by LPP. There were more villagers in LPP public meeting and most of them were the poor of the village. In another public meeting at Chaenchal Singh Wale village on the same day late at night, several hundred people refused to go away despite the rain and listened the plea of Mian Abdul Qayum to take a revolutionary step by electing him.
The campaign of PPP candidate Rana Aftab Ahmed is centered on the cast system and he is appealing to Rana Baradari to elect him. He is also promising to provide gas in each village. The campaign of PMLN candidate is fully supported by Punjab government with official transport, police and other functionaries. Both ruling parties have brought ministers in the campaign.
The LPP campaign is without any resources and transport. After working 12 hours in the factories, workers come to campaign for Mian Abdul Qayum till 12 in the night. It is a hell lot of sacrifice by the workers for a workers leader.
We need your support. Our initial finance appeal has brought some results. We need to go on. We need much more. We want you to do more. We need to build a Socialist alternative free of the influence of the capitalist class.
The normal comments about our campaign are that we are in the fight. Some says that we are in the third position after PMLN and PPP candidates. But we have decided that workers votes will not be spoiled by voting to an enemy class. It does not matter how many votes we get, it does matter that we are standing and hopefully, we will have reasonable votes for the first time in LPP history. Over 10,000 workers in the last 10 days have attended our public and corner meetings.
PPP candidate says if I lose, it will be because of LPP, the PMLN candidate says the same. We dam care about what they say. We are clear if any one of them gets elected, workers will lose. We are contacting Left wing parties, groups, social organizations and radical individuals and youth to support us. We hope that they will support us.
We need your support. Please come forward in whatever way you could support. Above all, we need your money, for a cause that unites us nationally and internationally. It is workers fight in Pakistan to unite the workers internationally.
See the appeal : Pakistan: Help us to put forward a credible alternative to the politics of the rich – An Appeal to all friends in Social and political circles