Socialism of 21^st century would be basis for working class salvation

Best tradition of the Left would be promoted and defended

Vows to launch campaign for the release of arrested activists

AWP first congress concluded: 41 members’ federal committee elected, 1.6 million Rupees raised in finance appeal

Abid Hasan Minto, Fanoos Gujjar, Farooq Tariq elected as president, chairman and general secretary

Awami Workers Party first two days congress concluded here with a rally on the roads of Islamabad chanting slogans against capitalism feudalism and in favor of socialism. Addressing the rally at Aabpara Chouck Islamabad, Fanoos Gujjar, newly elected chairman vowed to build a party that would help working class to overthrow a rotten corrupt system for a Socialist Pakistan.

The congress elected unanimously a 41 members federal committee on the first day, they took oath next day in front of over 350 delegates and observers. Veteran peasant leader, Choudry Fateh Mohammed administered the oath.

The main slogan of the congress banner was, “Struggle, Solidarity and Socialism”.

Among the 41 members, Baba Jan got the maximum applause when his name was called. He g ot life sentence just two days before the congress. He had arrived in Islamabad to attend the congress, but went back to face the sentence after the court announced the punishment in a case of helping climate change victims during 2011.

Following office bearers were elected for the next two years by the elected federal committee.

President: Abid Hasan Minto, Chairman: Fanoos Gujjar: General secretary Farooq Tariq, senior vice president: Akhtar Hussain, vice president Farzana Bari, Deputy general secretary: Javed Akhtar, Finance secretary Shazia Khan, Information secretary: Nisar Shah, Peasant secretary: Younas Rahu, Women secretary: Abida Choudry, Secretary education: Haider Zaman and youth secretary: Farooq Ahmad

The success of the campaign on the social media by AWP young activists can be gagged by the fact that Bilawal Bhutto (son of Benazhir Bhutto and chairman of PPP) recommend his disillusioned party workers to attend our congress and join. He said a tweet message:

“In fact, if any former sympathizers are looking to attend a political event today I would suggest attending the #AWPCongress in Islamabad.” [1]

There was a great response when the solidarity messages of international organization were read at the congress.

Following organizations sent the messages; 1- NPA (France), 2- Socialist Alliance (Australia), 3- Communist Party of Bangladesh ML, 4- Left Voice (Sri Lanka), 5- Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM), 6- Dutch Socialist Party (SP), 7- Workers International Network (UK), 8- Scottish Socialist Party, 9- The Smmilita Samajjik Andolon (United civil Society Movement) Bangladesh, 10- Jangibaad Birodhi Mancha (Forum Against Religious Intolerance and fanaticism) Bangladesh, 11- Communist Party of India ML, 12- Japan Revolutionary Communist League (JRCL), 13- Left Party of Sweden, 14- Left Unity (UK), 15- South Asian Peoples Forum (UK), 16- Indian Workers Association (UK), 17- Afghanistan Solidarity Party, 18- Labour Education Foundation (Pakistan), 19- Fourth International (FI) France, 20- International Socialist Left (Germany), 21- Communist Party of Pakistan, 22- Gefont (Nepal), 23- Socialist Alternative (Australia), 24- Professor Chaman Lal (JNU New Delhi), 25- Afghan Workers Revolutionary Front, 26- Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians, 27- Friends of South Asia (USA),

The finance appeal at the congress raised over 600,000 Rupees and a pre congress appeal raised nearly another one million Rupees.

Speaking at last session of the congress, newly elected president of AWP Abid Hasan Minto said that we must learn from lesions of the collapse of Socialism after 73 years in power. We need democratic socialism. Establishing a united party of the Left is a new unique idea that is been observed keenly by the Left parties of the region and internationally. Commenting on the target of the membership of 10,000 from the present 5623 members, he said that we would have many more than the target during the next two years. “All we need is party unity and many would join”. He appealed to those on sideline to join AWP to help build a society free from capitalist, imperialist, feudal exploitation. He said that best traditions of the Left would be promoted by the party.

The only international delegate at the congress was Mahmood Hamrazan, (chief editor Voice of Solidarity) of Solidarity Party of Afghanistan, who travelled from Kabul to Islamabad to attend and deliver a message of solidarity. He was very warmly welcome by the delegates of the congress.

Those who spoke in this open session include Nighat Khan of ASR Women resource Centre, Amjad Salar Ali of Mazdoor Kissan Party, Professor Khaliq Kiyani of UKPNP, Dr Khalid Javed Jan (radical poet), Dr Rajab Ali Memon, Said Alam Mehsud of Pakhtunkhwa Ulasi Tehrek, president AWP KPK, Asim Sajad Akhtar president AWP Punjab, Zafar Iqbal president AWP Saraiki Waseeb, Sufi Abdul Khaliq from AWP Balochistan, Fanoos Gujjar, chairman AWP and Abid HASAN Minto president AWP.

Farooq Tariq read out the international solidarity messages and made a finance appeal that raised another 600,000 Rupees.

The congress opened with singing of the “International” by a group of young comrades. Chaired jointly by Abid Hasan Minto, Farooq Tariq and Fanoos Gujjar with a four member standing order committee consisting of Nisar Shah, Ismat Shahjehan, Javed Akhtar and Haider Zaman, congress first speaker Abid Hasan Minto briefly explained why we need a unity of the three parties to continue and need for a mass party of the Left.

There were slogans raised by the youth at the congress like, “down with imperialism, feudalism, capitalism, Up up red flag, long live Socialism, ism ism Socialism, path of revolution is our path, join us for a Socialist revolution, Down with military generals and colonels, land to the tillers, trade union rights for every worker” and so on.

Farooq Tariq presented a general secretary report which covering the AWP activites and organization from November 2012 to September 2014.

AWP manifesto and constitution was presented by Akhtar Hussain in two sessions and after presentations of written suggestions by delegates for amendments and recommendation was to be discussed by the newly elected federal committee.

The manifesto and constitution was accepted unanimously. The new flag was also unanimously recommended.

The new 41 federal committee members list by outgoing leadership was presented by Abid Hasan Minto and was agreed upon unanimously.

The congress passed several resolutions. It vowed to launch an international campaign for the release of Baba Jan and 11 other activists sentenced to life imprisonment just two days before the congress.

The rally was a great occasion and here are some links to the report of the rally and news about the congress. [2]

Report by secretariat AWP
5 Mcleod Road Lahore, Pakistan

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