Awami Workers Party (Peoples Workers Party) appeals to all its members and supporters to donate funds for the party. AWP is launching an appeal to raise at least 50 Lakh Rupees ($50,000) by 31^st January 2013. This will enable AWP to function in all parts of the country as an effective progressive force. AWP workers are already making massive financial and personal sacrifices to ensure that the party functions on an everyday basis.

AWP was founded after the merger of the Labour Party Pakistan (LPP), Workers Party Pakistan (WPP) and Awami Party Pakistan (APP) at Aiwan-i-Iqbal Lahore on 11^th November 2012. Over five hundred party delegates and observers attended the event.

Abid Hassan Minto, former president of Supreme Court Bar Association and a lifelong Left leader was elected as president while Fanoos Gujjar and Farooq Tariq were elected as chairman and general secretary of AWP. Fanoos Gujjar was president of Awami Party and has played an important role in building the progressive forces in the religiously dominated Khyber Pukhtoon Khawa province. Farooq Tariq is former general secretary of Labour Party Pakistan. The new party leadership has pledged to build a new programme of socialism for 21^st century Pakistan.

The other office holders include prominent social and political activists, among them are Dr Hasan Nasir, senior vice president; Baba Jan, vice president (just released on bail after over a year in a Gilgit jail; he had launched a struggle for just compensation for all the victims of Atta abad lake, and is now a renowned climate change prisoner); Dr. Farzana Bari, women secretary, (a nationally known feminist); senior advocate Akhtar Hussain as secretary education and culture, (Akhtar Hussain is at presently vice chairman Pakistan Bar Council); and Nasir Mansoor, labour secretary (he is also deputy secretary National Trade Union Federation).

The AWP seeks to build a viable alternative to the status quo. Party manifesto articulates four main contradictions in Pakistan’s political economy: class oppression, imperialism, religious extremism and the national question.

The founding of this new party has generated a lot of enthusiasm among left activists and has immediately emerged as the largest left party in Pakistan with representation in most parts of the country.

AWP delegates at the founding conference donated over a million Rupees; however, we need to build upon this effort urgently. We are planning to launch a countrywide campaign to introduce AWP among the working class of Pakistan with leaflets, posters, banners, party manifesto and flags.

AWP also plans to contest general elections from some districts. There is a possibility that some party workers could win representation to national and provincial assemblies. The general elections are due any time after March 2013. There is not much time left. Please donate more than you would do in normal circumstances.

We have received the following donations

[Names and amount of donations not reproduced here]

For a Total of 1,086,300 rupies

Please send your donations to the following account

Account title: Farooq Tariq, Talib Hussain
Account number: 0058731981001667
MCB Bank, Beadon Road Branch, Lahore
Branch Code :: 0949
Swift code number: MUCBPKKA
Address: MCB Bank, 13-Fazal Building, Beadon Road/Cooper Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Telephone No. ::042-36290251
Fax No. :: 042-36290252

(Note: This is joint account of the finance secretary and general secretary of AWP, when AWP would be formally registered at the Election Commission Pakistan, we would open an account on name of AWP).

Fraternally,
Farooq Tariq (general secretary)
Talif Hussain (finance secretary)

For International Donations

Donations from outside Pakistan can be sent though ESSF euro account when it is easier to do so.

Do not forget to mention “Pakistan/AWP” in transfers or on the back of checks.

Cheques
cheques to ESSF in euros only to be sent to:
ESSF
2, rue Richard-Lenoir
93100 Montreuil
France

Bank Account:
Crédit lyonnais
Agence de la Croix-de-Chavaux (00525)
10 boulevard Chanzy
93100 Montreuil
France
ESSF, account number 445757C

International bank account details :
IBAN : FR85 3000 2005 2500 0044 5757 C12
BIC / SWIFT : CRLYFRPP
Account holder : ESSF

We shall keep you informed through our website of the state of the permanent solidarity fund and how it is utilized.

Transfers can also be done through Paypal (see on the home page of our website).