“Free Baba Jan; abolish the
anti-terrorism courts; and end political victimisation” were some of the main
slogans chanted by a handful activists of Awami Workers Party (AWP) outside
Lahore Press Club last week, calling for the release of the prisoners charged
of terrorism in Gilgit-Baltistan.
A local anti-terrorism court of
Gilgit sentenced Baba Jan, one of the key activist and representative of the
AWP, to life in prison along with 11 other campaigners of rights of the
marginalised of the northern underdeveloped areas.
The issue, stirring small scale
protests and national public disapproval, activated the party’s committed
supporters to come out on the streets in different cities and take up the
matter in AWP’s first federal congress, held in Islamabad last week. The AWP —
a product of late 2012 amalgamation of three Left-wing parties Awami Party,
Workers Party and Labour Party — expressed determination to continue its
struggle for the revival of working class’ politics and the unity of
progressive forces in Pakistan.
Jan, in his early 30s, who is leading
Progressive Youth Front in Gilgit, and the other sentenced protestors will
spend 40 additional years in prison, besides paying 500,000 rupees in fines,
according to the verdict. Further, the convicts’ properties and earnings will
be used to reconstruct buildings damaged and assets put on fire on August 11,
2011 in Aliabad, Hunza. The protestors were charged with attacking and
vandalising government buildings in Aliabad after police killed an unarmed man
and his son who were Internally Displaced People (IDPs) belonging to the
disaster-hit Ayeenabad village of Gojal Valley, upper Hunza.
The AWP launched #FreeGB12 (Free
Gilgit Baltistan 12 activists) campaign on twitter after the verdict on Jan and
other activists. They held peaceful protests and raised voice for the IDPs who
were not given any financial compensation by the GB government.
Abid Minto says the
party was an outcome of years-long struggle to resurrect the Pakistani Left. He
believed with this new united platform, Pakistani Left was now on its way to
becoming a strong political force.
In January 2010, a mountain collapsed
into Hunza River, creating Attabad Lake. As the lake formed, village after
village was submerged. Over 1000 local people were displaced and over 25,000
were cut off from the rest of the country. Many families did not receive
financial compensation that allegedly went to the families supporting the
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Following the protests, a case was
lodged against Jan and others. Jan remained in jail for two years (2011-13) and
was granted bail after a series of protests and national and international
campaigns by his party supporters such as Noam Chomsky and Tariq Ali. He
presented himself before the police after the verdict was announced. His party
denies allegations of burning government properties.
“We demand immediate release of Baba
Jan and 11 other activists from GB,” Qalandar Bux Memon, a comrade who teaches
at a Lahore’s private university and is organising the campaign demanding the
activist’s release, told TNS. “These are
political prisoners and their sin is giving awareness to the marginalised
communities of their areas about their rights.” He said the AWP always called
for intellectual and political freedom. “This campaign would continue.”
Also read: The marginality of progressives
The recently held national
congregation of the AWP reiterated the commitment to broaden the party network
and grab more space on the political canvas of the country. The party, a blend
of slums’ residents, trade unionists, farmers, and students among others, want
rights for the poor, marginalised, land redistribution for workers and
peasants, reduction in the defence budget and reallocation of the government
spending to address issues relating to health, education and unemployment.
Abid Hasan Minto, President of the
AWP, said the party was an outcome of years-long struggle to resurrect the
Pakistani Left. He believed with this new united platform, Pakistani Left was
now on its way to becoming a strong political force struggling for socialism,
equality and justice in the country. “Mainstream parties have practically
neglected the working class,” he said. “We don’t want a revolution that does
not involve workers rights. The AWP would revive the Leftist traditions and
engage youth to deal with contemporary challenges.”
“The party is preparing an
anti-capitalist, anti-feudal, anti-patriarchy and anti-imperialist youth force
to achieve transformative changes in the country.” Minto said the party is
struggling against the neo-colonial imperialist onslaught and its control of
Pakistani financial institutions. The party is also fighting against the rising
extremism and social and economic crises faced by Pakistan.
Related article: Shrinking space for liberals by
Rubina Saigol
Interestingly, in a recent ardent
appeal, made on twitter, Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilwal Bhutto
welcomed and encouraged all leftwing parties to join the political process. “If
a PPP sympathiser desires to attend a political event, I would suggest him to
attend the AWP Congress (recently held in Islamabad).”
The AWP, on its official social
network websites, appreciated Bilawal for realising that AWP is a genuine
alternative force determined to end social, economic and ideological oppression
in Pakistan.
Interestingly, Bilawal is extending
support to a party (AWP) which is demonstrating against political victimisation
and calling for the release of political prisoners in GB, where his party
rules. “Bilawal’s statement seems contradictory. We are struggling against
feudalism and the PPP represents feudatory,” said Sajid Baloch, an AWP
protestor outside Lahore Press Club, adding, “the PPP acted too late on the
Attabad Lake issue.”
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