The South Asian: Political Parties Of Pakistan And the Labour Movement

September 28, 2004

Political Parties Of Pakistan And the Labour Movement - I

In the first part of this series, B M Kutty presents a summary of the political forces that affected the labour movement in Pakistan in the first two decades after its independence.

The role of political parties of Pakistan vis-à-vis the working class and the trade union movement has fluctuated between positive, negative and hostile. No doubt, the programmes of the parties, which claimed to be progressive/leftist, did contain some promises to promote the interests of the working class and protect their rights. However, with the exception of the Communist Party, and that too for a short period in the early years of Pakistan when it worked in unison with the country’s pioneer trade union organisation – Pakistan Trade Union Federation – most others only used labour-related part of their programmes to draw support of the working class for furthering their narrow party interests.

About the Muslim League, which assumed power after independence, the less said the better. Un-nerved by the possibility of a growing trade union movement under the banner of the PTUF, backed by the Communist Party, the Muslim League Government dominated by feudals and immigrant mercantile capitalists, and run by our own “native” bureaucracy cast in the colonial mould, sponsored a “rival” organisation, Pakistan Federation of Labour. Then, under the pretext of complicity in the so-called Rawalpindi Conspiracy case in which several senior Army officers and leftist intellectuals were implicated, the Government launched a frontal attack in 1950-51 on the PTUF and various progressive organizations.

The Government of the day was not willing to accept the prospect of even a single trade union representative winning an electoral contest. Mirza Mohammad Ibrahim, a prominent leader of the PTUF and the unchallenged leader of the railway workers had contested the 1951 provincial election in Punjab against the Muslim League candidate Ahmed Saeed Kirmani and won with a comfortable majority. His victory was announced over the radio. But within hours, the Muslim League Government ordered a recounting of votes on the unsubstantiated objection filed by the losing candidate. Late-lamented S.S. Jaffri, who was Deputy Commissioner of Lahore, “supervised” the recounting and rejected as many votes as were needed to declare Ahmed Saeed Kirmani as the winner. So much for Muslim League’s respect for the verdict of the people in favor of a labour leader.

As the Government and its policies began to be increasingly influenced by the United States, the feudal-dominated Muslim League Government, buttressed by the bureaucracy, mounted a ruthless attack against not only the trade union movement but also against the entire progressive movement. In 1954, in one single sweep it banned the Communist Party, PTUF, and also the progressive students’, writers’ and other organizations. From then on, till the imposition of Martial Law in October 1958, the political ruling classes, whether represented by the Muslim League or its freak offshoot of the mid-fifties, the Republican Party, used the state machinery to prevent the genuine trade union leadership from leading the trade union movement. Instead, government-sponsored/controlled labour federations were patronized and pushed to the forefront.

In 1955, a Labour Policy was announced, in which the Government spelt out its intention to promote trade union activities, stop exploitation of the workers, ensure welfare of workers and encourage collective bargaining as per ILO Convention No. 98 etc. However, the overnight metamorphosis of Muslim League into Republican Party and subsequent rapid changes on the political scene (4 coalition governments and 4 different prime ministers in less than 4 years) left no time for the governments to attend to fulfilling their commitments.

Here, it is relevant to point out that during the latter half of the fifties, two political organizations – the Awami League and the National Awami Party – had steadily grown in size and influence in the country. Awami League represented the middle and lower middle classes of East Pakistan with a fair amount of grass-roots support among the masses. National Awami Party (NAP), which was the product of the merger of several regional nationalist political groups of West Pakistan and the progressive leftist political activists of both West and East Pakistan, had close links with the working class movement. Both these parties had explicit provisions in their programmes for promoting and protecting the interests and rights of labour. It was more so in the case of the National Awami Party, which had gradually come to represent the hopes and aspirations of all the oppressed people of Pakistan including the working class. However, following the announcement of general elections to be held early 1959, which might have brought the National Awami Party to the position of one of the major political forces in the country, an imperialist-backed military coup was staged by General Iskander Mirza and General Ayub Khan, short-circuiting that whole political process.

Needless to point out that dictatorships and the working class movement cannot co-exist. The ten years of Ayub’s martial law and the next three years of Yahya’s martial law constituted a long period of suppression of most of the political and democratic rights of the people including workers’ right to trade union activities. The industrialization process launched by Ayub regime had no room for conceding rights to workers, nor had Ayub’s Convention Muslim League any concern for the working class and their problems, though 4 months after imposing martial law, his military regime had announced a Labour Policy (in 1959) re-iterating the Government’s commitment to implementing the ILO Conventions (which had been ratified already) and promoting the growth of trade unions, etc. Similarly, Yahya regime announced a Labour Policy in 1969 which went even further, admitting that justice was never done to the workers, that both the government and employers had been at fault and, in so many words, pledged to undo the injustice. But nothing changed.

B. M. Kutty is the Joint Director with the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education & Research

Posted by collective at September 28, 2004 04:11 PM

Comments

Dear Sir/madam,
The vain guard of Pakistan….?

The Father of the Nation laid stress on social justice in his speech. In the historic presidential address at the session of the All India Muslim League in 1940, the Quaid-e-Azam said: Since the dawn of history, thinking people have realized that no human society can endure which allows the exploitation of man by man or which permits the application of different sets of laws to different classes of people. If these things are allowed then society develops inner conflicts. History tells us that internal strife rather than external aggression is the greater danger for any society.

Quiad-e-Azam's love for the labor and his efforts for the cause of the workers have generally been suppressed by the vested group within. This aspect of Quid’s life is being sidelined deliberately. His advocacy for representation of workers in bodies where their problems and fate is being discussed and decided; paying the workers a living wage and fair conditions of work are as valid today as these were in Quaid-e-Azam's life time. It is a great tragedy that in Quaid's Pakistan, despite, his repeated warnings to landlords and capitalists, the common man, are being ignored, exploited and suppressed.

An attempt has been made here to spotlight and focus on this aspect of Quaid's life, so that those, who are struggling for the cause of workers and other down-trodden sections of the society, take moral strength that they are on the right track But unfortunately Since the creation of Pakistan the Pakistani people are left at distant from the corridor of power so that the ruling elite can do what they wanted to do in favor of their interest, leaving the Pakistani at the mercy of circumstances. As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan there for your intention is invited to the crucial movement which could be the point of distraction or disaster. All the section of society such as common man, women, youth and laborer etc are isolated, ignored.

In reality even now a days, millions of workers in Pakistan are held in modern forms of slavery. Throughout the country, employers forcibly extract labor from adults; children and women restrict their freedom of movement, and deny them the right to negotiate the terms of their employment. Employers force such workers into servitude through physical abuse, forced confinement, and debt-bondage. The state offers these workers no effective protection from this exploitation. Although slavery is unconstitutional in Pakistan and violates various national and international laws, state practices support its existence. The state rarely prosecutes or punishes employers who hold workers in servitude. Moreover, workers who contest their exploitation are invariably confronted with police harassment, often leading to imprisonment under false charges. Debt-bondage in Pakistan is endemic and widespread, the problems of debt-bondage in Pakistan to be among the worst in the world ,Common in the areas of agriculture, brick-making, carpet-weaving, mining, and handicraft production. Bonded laborers in Pakistan suffer a range of violations. These include the right not to be held in slavery or servitude, the right not to be imprisoned merely on the ground of inability to fulfill a contractual obligation, the right not to be arbitrarily arrested, the right to liberty of movement, and the right to freedom of association, including the right to form and join trade unions.

The labor and farmers have collectively formed many union and federation but instead of getting freedom from the chain of exploiter they are further trapped in to vicious circle. The trade union activities in different name and color of nationality rather then being base for working class unity, fail to protect the rights of the worker, because they to, were not united and committed to get rid of the route cause of this problems. They involved in different type of moral and financial corruption and divide the workers force, then uniting them for positive change in Pakistan. They dishearten the masses and leave them in disarray.

One thing is very much clear now that the route cause of wild exploitation and injustice to manipulate labor and farm-labor is the system prevailing in Pakistan. But unfortunately still the leadership of working people is running after the feudal elites as savior of exploited people.

More so, after the creation of Pakistan the Pakistani people are left at distant from the corridor of power so that the ruling elite can do what they wanted to do in favor of their interest, leaving the Pakistani people at the mercy of circumstances. As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan there for your attention is invited to the crucial movement which could be the point of distraction or disaster.

This is a time to unite for collective action from all the section of the society, the labor, farmer, youth and women for emancipation of society from the exploiter of this country. Islamic Democratic Party has accept the challenge for the change of system from centralize sole power in the hands of one or few of them to decentralize the power at grass route level in the hands of downtrodden oppressed people of Pakistan for that purpose let us unite on following points of collective struggle such as;

• To provide free education with technical training (skill) to every citizen.

• A guarantee for job opportunity should be provided to every able person.

• To establish research institution at divisional level to encourage the youth having natural skill to invent and to encourage the youth for research work in order to develop technology at home.

• A better health facilities and insurance coverage should be provided to every working Person.

• A better residential facility should be provided to every worker.

• A chip and safe transport facilities should be provided to all working people.

• To co-ordinate, direct and guide the activities of workers federation’s, affiliated in industry-wise unions, in all matters directly or indirectly affecting the workers.

• To ensure the integration of women in trade union organizations and actively promote gender equality in activities and decision-making at all levels.

• To strive for elimination of child labor and all forms of forced/ bonded labor.

• To defend and promote at the, regional and national level the economic, social and occupational interests of all workers.

• To endeavor to secure, improved and better relationship between employers and workers.

• To promote and protect the interest of the affiliated units and endeavor to secure legislative support for furthering the interests of the workers.

• To work for abolition of contract labor in all its forms.

• To encourage and promote cooperatives and socio-economic projects and services for the benefit of the workers.

• To promote literacy and skills amongst the workers through, adult education; and free secondary education, vocational training and technical education.

• To work for rapid industrialization of the country, together with change of socio-political system to guarantee the rule of oppressed and downtrodden people of Pakistan.

• To promote, protect and defend all human rights and to establish and promote cooperation with like minded organizations of civil society for protection and advancement of all basic rights, and to endeavor for the establishment of rule of law, independence of judiciary and good governance.

Islamic Democratic Party, openly inviting all those believed in changing social and political state of downtrodden people and dream them to be in power, so that they can, decide the fate of their own future and their generation, such as, a unions and federation committed to working class, welfare and starved for, dignity and respect for labor and cherished treatment for all Pakistani, then ,they must come forward and join hands with IDP, take the rain of leadership responsibility and prove your self that you really want change, of socio-political system in Pakistan to establish welfare state of your dream, Because, only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous ,progressive and peace full Pakistan.

Kindly acknowledge your suggestion and remarks.

See www.idp.org.pk

Ilyas khan Baloch
Organizer Islamic Democratic Party

Posted by: Ilyas khan Baloch on March 20, 2008 11:28 AM

Dear Sir/Madam,
The Youth- ONLY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF PAKISTAN.

The role of youth in the rebuilding of Pakistan should be envisaged and elaborated in such a way that it becomes easy to address the grievances and suggest ways out of it, so that a new era of dawn can be started. Since the creation of Pakistan, the Pakistani are deprived of their basic right to rule this country according to their aspiration and dream. At the same time, the real strength for the development along with their internal skill i.e. the youth power of Pakistan was left alone in isolation at the mercy of circumstances and their basic right to get the development opportunity without any discrimination was denied. Pakistan is a country of diversified culture and traditions. It is a nation of one hundred sixty million diverse people ranging from having skill within, having no opportunity to utilize the skills, and those who need help and guidance for development of skills to utilize. Pakistan is a melting pot of creative ideas and god gifted skill. But it needs organized planning and a system to develop and utilize these skills for rapid development in industrialization and agricultural sector.
Though the youth of Pakistan is still under its formative phase, they have the ability to increase vast production processes and providing substantial training to the masses in all parts of the country. According to the vision of the father of the nation, Pakistan was to be a democratic country based on the concept of equal citizenship for all Pakistani, irrespective of their color and creed. As per Jinnah's vision, Pakistan had to facilitate vibrant economic opportunities by curbing corruption and partiality. Although this speech was censored by those who wanted to create confusion, derail democracy, and deny the development as per aspirations of Pakistani.
The Youth of Pakistan, the "Nation Builders", are also nullified and ignored in sharing the rewards given to us by our mother land. The country, which was established after countless sacrifices of our forefathers to attain the liberty, prosperity and peace, simply. For being free and prosperous Pakistani. But, In return, our rulers have given this country nothing but a gloomy future, poverty and betrayal. As a result, our youth has been connotated as “Young Seagulls” trying to fly without feathers towards their destiny. Pakistanis in their quest for real freedom continue to struggle to get free from the shackles of ruling elites, encircle us. Whenever a person rises up for something new in his mind, it is pressed down as being a "rebellious thought".

The question is, to what extent such a paralyzed mind and body can serve the nation? In fact, the "Nation Builders" themselves need overhauling and ample space to fly. Unless and until, we develop an optimistic thinking and unshackled of the chained, our journey to the country's prosperity cannot reach its destination. We should not lose the right path for the fear of being followed by absurdities and unfair means, like a dark shadow. Islamic Democratic Party has decided to give the rain of socio-political change in the hand of new generation in Pakistan. IDP wants them to read and understand the program and come forward to lead this party at grass route level to decide the fate of their future destination and take power in their hands.
As the Pakistani people, have been left at a distance from the corridor of power so that the ruling elite can do what they wanted to do in favor of their interest, leaving the Pakistani people at the mercy of circumstances. This policy is an outright denial of the right of Pakistanis to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to build this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all, without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society based on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for a prosperous and strong Pakistan.

Islamic democratic party has accepted this challenge to rationalize the system from its base of centralization of sole power, controlled by the feudal and mighty elites, to the new base of decentralization of power in the hands of Pakistani at grass route level so that the route cause of deprivation, hatred and poverty could be eliminated and Pakistan can become a prosperous, developed state without any discrimination. Under the name and banner if Islamic Democratic party (IDP), the power should transfer at divisional level within the provinces with
financial, administrative and political power to establish real democracy in Pakistan. The divisional council will be responsible for providing the basic guarantee for the people living or settled in the division with transparency and accountability of the public representative and institution, where as provinces should be based on democratic division and the centre should be based on democratic provinces. There will be no politician in the senate but experts form all walks of life, including religious scholars assuring that no law can pass in NA against the law of Allah.

We have already lost the major part of Pakistan in 1971 simply to save the centralized sole power to exploit the resources of this country, they let the country breaking, in a part then allowing the masses to rule this country democratically. In the present circumstances they are again dragging our sovereignty at stack for the external interest in the name of national interest, instead of our interest i.e. the interest of Pakistani people at large.

The only way out of these crucial circumstances is to empower the common Pakistani at grass route level i.e. the change of system. This change is inevitable for the prosperous Pakistan .As a citizen of this country I have try to provide an alternate socio-political system to empower the masses at grass route level for rapid industrial and agriculture development with transparency and accountability in the system. Along with basic guarantees for the creation of welfare state, where in public representative and institution shall be answerable and accountable to the masses.

We invite the youth of Pakistan to take the rain in their hands and lead the nation in right direction.

See web site www.idp.org.pk

Ilyas khan Baloch
Organizer, Islamic Democratic Party.

Posted by: Ilyas khan Baloch on March 20, 2008 11:35 AM

Dear Sir/Madam,

Pakistani Women at crossroad?

Everyone has the right to live with, liberty and security of the person. Woman is entitled to equal rights as citizen of Pakistan and live in a family, which is the natural and fundamental unit of society and is entitled to be protected by society and state. The women power in Pakistan is nearly 52% of the population, but while considering the status of 'women' in Pakistan, our women still look like to be living in the dark ages. Their right for acquiring education and economic freedom is not incourage; it is a matter of deep distress that being Muslims we have completely forgotten the status of women given by Islam, as per teaching of our beloved prophet, Mohammad (P.B.U.H) that women are dignified, respected and secure in Islam than in other faith. Women are more protected by Islam then by the faith and society which preaches monogamy. Islam was the first religion to recognize the equality of sexes and granted women all rights, 1400 years ago, in those early days of Islam.

But since the creation of Pakistan the right of women were ignore similarly the rights of Pakistani to rule this country and decide the fate of their own future. After the independence of Pakistan the socio-political system does not change, little or no reform were carried out and therefore the status quo of the society remain the same as it was before. The feudal remain in power as they were before, under the rule of British Empire and even before them.

The survival of the feudal system remains in brutality, ignorance, illiteracy and poverty’s it is the system to be blame for humiliation, exploitation and cruelty with women’s. The right of women cannot be protected till we provide ample opportunity to women for uplift, such as education with skill development and an opportunity to utilize that kill to enhance economic activities such as their participation in the production and services in the country.

We must feel proud in developing and implementing our values and stop looking at the west as passage/light for women’s right, women is most exploited in the west, in the name of democracy and equal rights, the freedom allowed in the west is not for the protection of women from exploitation and maintain the dignity. Even in these modern world women is being humiliated in socio-economic and cultural front by the dominant man power. Everybody is talking about the women’s right with special reference to job, education and equal opportunity in the society with dignity and respect. But, Women’s are being exploited even since the commencement of modern society. At work place in the factory, in search of job and better chances to avail for better income and prosperous life, even in the offices women are exploited by the influential people, one way or the other.

The most exploited women’s are from working class due to economic problems, middle class in order to maintain fake standard of living and the upper class for the sake of enjoyment of life and for getting rid off frustration in their social domestic life.
It is true that women in Pakistan have never been disassociated with the struggle for democracy. However, the women's gained more maturity in its understanding of national issues because of this interaction and participation in the movement for democracy, women have been engaged in the debate on insecurity and instability and its links to critical domestic condition.
Pakistan is an Islamic state, where people, not only take pride in strictly adhering to the Islamic values but are ready to sacrifice their loved belongings for the glory and sanctity of Islam. Islam has accorded a highly respected social position to women. Islam acknowledges the rights and privileges of the women in society. Likewise, Islam does not impose any restrictions that may hamper the social growth and development of the woman within the framework of Islamic society. A woman is equally important member of society. The woman plays a vital role in building the society on healthier and stronger foundations.

The women in Pakistan have been constantly complaining of having being isolated from the mainstream of society. Women feel disillusioned on being maltreated by the male-oriented set up in Pakistan. They strongly claim that if they are given a chance, they can contribute more positively towards the development of all social aspects. Pakistani women are at crossroad and need a serious concentration on the route cause of exploitation of women’s right; the reason, the route cause is the prevailing system in the country which is needed to be changed. The current democracy and the representation of women within the assembly does not represent common Pakistani women, they are part and partial of rich and feudal families.
Therefore, Islamic Democratic Party has decided to give back dignity and respect to the women, but that dignity and respect cannot be achieve without the change of socio-political system in the country. However, to give back honor and dignity to the women, we are suggesting to the women of Pakistan;

• Education and Technical knowledge to be provided to every capable woman in separate and safe environment.
• After enhancement of knowledge and skill, provide safe and separate environment for women to work and join national production force.
• A guarantee for job opportunity should be provided to every woman wanted to work in safe and separate environment.
• When, 52% women power will join production and services sector, national gross production /services will increase and so the increase in revenue.
• Working women will earn for the family and bring happiness to the family and so the self satisfaction, dignity and respect within the family will increase.
• A separate working environment reduces the objection from the male member of the family.
• An educated mother can train new generation in better way and be a supporting partner in family as and when needed.
• Being earning member of the family, self confidence of women will enhance and so the intrinsic skill will further developed.
• The medical facilities and insurance coverage should be provided to every working woman.

• Equal participation in political wing for women in the political parties.

• Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan.

Therefore, we, invite the women from all walks of life to come forward and join the rank and file of Islamic Democratic Party and take the rain for the change of socio-political in their hands to acquire peace and progress for better life with women’s dignity, respect and equal opportunity in Pakistan.

www.idp.org.pk

Ilyas khan Baloch
Organizer, Islamic Democratic Party.

Posted by: Ilyas khan Baloch on March 20, 2008 11:36 AM

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