Lahore (press release)
Lahore Left Front (LLF) held a meeting at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) to discuss issues of national importance and take decisions on LLF’s response on these matters. The meeting was chaired by Rashed Rehman and attended by representative of Left organisations, parties and groups based in Lahore.
The meeting resolved that LLF will hold a protest rally on November 14, 2019 on the issue of our flawed justice system in the light of the court verdict on the Sahiwal incident. The meeting termed the decision a murder of justice.
It was agreed that LLF will come out in solidarity with the striking Grand Health Alliance by participating in their protest campaign against the government’s plans to privatise healthcare. It termed the privatisation of the hospitals as a great loss the the health of the ordinary citizens. It demanded an immediate withdrawal of The Punjab Medical Teaching Institutions (Reforms) Ordinance 2019.
The LLF meeting strongly condemns the brutal attack by police on the peaceful People’s National Alliance Kashmir on October 21, 2019 in which two people were killed and over a hundred injured, particularly at a time when repression in Indian Held Kashmircis at its height after New Delhi’s annexation of the disputed territory.
The LLF discussed the Azadi March of Maulana Fazlur Rehman and decided to stay away from it. However, it was made clear that LLF would not lend any support to present PTI government and do its best to organise the working class against the neo liberal policies of the government. “We will not take part in the Azadi March but we will be part of the grand health alliance and other class based movements against the present government” Farooq Tariq convenor of Lahore Left Front said.
LLF expresses its solidarity with and participation in the progressive students’ Education Campaign rally on 29 the November in Lahore along Workers from different sectors including brick kilns. This will be a joint rally of students and workers in Lahore that would bring thousands on the street with red flags.
The meeting elected a 24 members Organising Committee of LLF. Those who were elected members of the committee include Awais Qarni, Dr. Taimur Rehman, Irfan Comrade, Rashed Rehman, Shahzad Arshad, Furrukh Suhail Goindi, Dr Ammar Ali Jan, Abdul Ghafoor, Haider Butt, Saddique Baig, Farooq Tariq, Sara Suhail, Nasir Iqbal, Amjad Saleem Minhas, Shafqat Khan, Shoukat Choudry, Javed Iqbal Moazzam, Minerva, Mohiba Ahmad, Tariq Shahzad, Sajid Baloch, Talib Hussain, Muhsin Abdali, Alyas Khan.
The parties that attended the LLF meeting included Pakistan Mazdoor Kissan Party, Pakistan Mazdoor Mahaz, Progressive Students Collective, Communist Party Pakistan, Railway Mahnat Kash Union, Lok Sanghat, Pakistan Peoples Party Shaheed Bhutto, Haqooq Khalaq Movement, Awami Party Pakistan, Revolutionary Socialist Movement, Women Democratic Front, Workers Democracy, National Party, Inqilabi Talba Mahaz, Pakistan Trade Unions Defense Campaign, Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee and Progressive Labour Federation.
Press release issued by Nasir Iqbal
27 October 2019