Stop Supplies to NATO forces in Pakistan

Rallies in six Pakistani cities

Demonstration in six Pakistani cites took place today on the tenth anniversary of the War on Terror, to denounce the poisonous effects of American imperialism everywhere. At Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, Karachi, Peshawar and Hyderabad, the Left wing activists chanted slogans against the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and demanded an immediate halt to the bombing of Libya by NATO forces.

Lahore rally was jointly organized by Workers party Pakistan, Labour Party Pakistan, Awami Jamhoori Forum, Awami Party and Revolutionary Socialist Movement, while rallies in other cities were organized by Labour Party Pakistan.

Speaking at the Lahore rally at Charing Cross, Farooq Tariq spokesperson Labour Party Pakistan said that he War has been expanded into Pakistan, where US drone attacks have claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians—and the Pakistani Army, encouraged and funded by the US, has launched murderous counter-insurgency campaigns in the Northwest, displacing millions.

Farooq Tariq said that the US has placed itself at the head of the counterrevolutionary offensive in the Middle East and North Africa, doing its utmost to roll back the heroic, popular revolt against the dictators on whom its power had so long depended. After drowning Iraq and Afghanistan in blood, Western imperialism has now sunk its fangs into Libya. Like a wild beast that smells the scent of its prey from a distance, it has seized upon the rebellion in Libya as if it were the opportunity of a lifetime. Attempts by America, Britain and France to portray the bombardment of Libya as a humanitarian act are totally fraudulent. Saudi Arabia sent its troops to crush the protestors of Bahrain, yet here America and NATO silently watched, or rather, covertly assisted their ally. So why the attack on Libya ? The answer is oil.

Farooq Tariq said that while it is accepted that Gaddafi and his model of ruling is autocratic and repressive and cannot be supported by any progressive grouping a few things also need to be stated about NATO and its discourse of humanitarian intervention and let us state them clearly : America and NATO are today visiting the same destruction on Libya that they visited upon Iraq. Whereas in Iraq they launched a full invasion, in Libya, they are pursuing other methods - by assisting collaborators within Libya itself. Let us be clear this is about regime change and oil and as with Iraq the oil will be privatized or linked to development projects for western co-operations. It is another instance of capitalism as imperialism. The victim again will be the poor of Libya and the world, the environment that this Capitalism is destroying and all those movements that aim at the democratization of the political, economic and social spheres - that is all those movements that aim at socialist’s solutions, Farooq Tariq said. He demanded that Pakistan should immediately stop the supplies of NATO forces from Pakistan. It should close down the entire military basis landed to American army and drone attacks must be stopped now.

Speaking at the rally in Islamabad, Nisar Shah General Secretary Labour Party Pakistan said that NATO must stop bombing Libya. Western imperialism has always done in the name of humanitarianism and democracy. In the name of democracy, it has propped up the most ruthless dictators in Latin America, the Middle East and all over the world. In the name of humanitarianism, it has savagely rained down death and destruction upon millions from its warplanes and tanks. History shows that every such intervention has been for securing strategic resources, subjugating third-world countries and crushing people’s movements, so that the rich may continue to remain rich and the poor continue to remain poor.

The Multan demonstration at Multan Press Club was led by Suhail Javed general secretary Labour Party Saraiki Waseeb. Over 100 participated and full throat slogans against American imperialism were chanted by the activists of LPP.

Over 200 demonstrated at Peshawar Press Club led by Farman Ali general secretary LPP Pukhtoon Khwa. Slogans were raised against the Drone attacks and military operation in different parts of the province and in tribal areas.

The Karachi rally at Karachi Press Club was led by Mukhtiar Rahu secrteray LPP Karachi. Activists of LPP raised slogans against American imperialism and said that the Left forces must oppose the imperialists attack on Libya. They also raised slogans against religious fundamentalism.

At Lahore, the activists from Labour Party Pakistan, Awami Party, Workers Party Pakistan, Revolutionary Socialist Movement, National Students Federation, National Trade Union Federation, Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee and Awami Jamoori Forum participated in the rally at Charring Cross Mall Road Lahore.

They raised slogans in solidarity with Arab masses and their struggle to overthrow the dictators and despotic regimes. They condemned the attacks of NATO over Libya and demanded an immediate withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Speakers included Choudry Naeem Shakir vice president Workers Party Pakistan, D^r Afshan Zaheer president Awami Jamoori Forum, Talib Hussain of Awami Party, Shahazad from RSM and Irfan Choudry president National Student Federation Punjab.

Choudry Naeem Shakir said that we must oppose the imperialist aggression that is responsible for the poverty prevailing in all the third world countries. We are in solidarity with the heroic struggle of Arab masses. The revolution has begun and the American imperialism wants to put a stop to that by intervening militarily.

LPP Correspondent
April 10, 2011

Solidarity demonstrations in six Pakistani cities for the United National Antiwar Committee’s national protests in New York and San Francisco

Dear All,

On April 10th, there will be solidarity demonstrations in six Pakistani cities, expressing our full backing for the United National Antiwar Committee’s national protests in New York and San Francisco.

The Demonstrations will be held on Sunday April 10, 2011.

The time and venue

1. Karachi 3pm Karachi Press club
2. Hyderabad 1pm Hyderabad Press club
3. Lahore 4pm Charing Cross Mall Road
4. Multan 3pm Multan Press club
5. Islamabad 2:30pm Islamabad National Press Club
6. Peshawar 12pm Peshawar Press club

Please join us if you can.

The Lahore Demonstration is jointly organised with 9 other Left parties and groups, while all the other are organised by Labour Party Pakistan.

Nisar Shah
April 9, 2011