Trade Unions Conference on Assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Shahdadkot (Sindh) Print E-mail
Written by Zafar Imam   
Monday, 10 March 2008

Trade Unions Conference in Shahdadkot On February 8, a conference was held under the title of "After Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's Political and Economic Situation" in Shahdadkot Town Hall. About 250 people filled the venue. Most of them were representatives of Trade Unions working in different industries and institutions in this small town. The significance of the venue is that this used to be Benazir Bhutto's constituency in the National Assembly. The town is also renowned for left-wing politics, and they say that communist ideas are deeply rooted in the local proletariat.

Comrade Jam Saqi was a special guest at the event. He has spent much of his time in active politics in Shahdadkot. He was welcomed with slogans such as "Jeay Bhutto", "Jeay Benazir", "Maang Raha Hae Har Insaan, Roti Kapra Aur Makan". With him was the editor of the Sindhi edition of The Struggle Dr. Haresh Kumar, and the youth of the BNT, comrades Sarfraz, Zafar Imam, Ayaz Soomro and others.

Trade Unions Conference in Shahdadkot A number of speakers from different trade unions contributed to the discussion. Among them were Abdul Fatah Markhand of the Employees Alliance, Ramesh Kumar of the Minority Alliance and the PPP, comrade Urrs Silro of the PPP, Mir Mohmad of the Spinning Mills Trade Union, Sikandar Silro of the PTUDC, Wahab Pandrani of the Left Front and many others.

Comrades Jam Saqi and Haresh conveyed revolutionary messages to the trade unionists after speaking in detail on the political and economical prospects of Pakistan. Comrade Jam Saqi's words, "Benazir ka Intiqam, Socialist Nizam" [Revenge for Benazir is Socialism] were well received by the audience. Comrade Haresh, gave an encouraging speech which restored the confidence of the audience after the mayhem of December 27.

At the end of the conference, comrade Jam Saqi held short meetings with trade union representatives. He succeeded in winning the support of the United Trade Union Alliance for the PTUDC. The United Trade Union Alliance consists of 19 trade unions in the area.

Trade Unions Conference in Shahdadkot They agreed to work in alliance with the PTUDC, and start a joint struggle against the privatisation of the Shahdadkot Textile Mills. The Mills employed 6000 workers who have been sacked since they were privatised. The PTUDC and the Trade Union Alliance have already agreed on the demand for the renationalisation of the Textile Mills.

After this joint agreement of struggle, the PTUDC will gain a much wider representation in the whole of the Upper Sindh Region, and has an opportunity to deepen its roots within the working class of the region. This agreement has opened the doors to the PTUDC that has received a big welcome in the labour movement in the whole region which is known as a PPP stronghold with traditions of left politics.

 
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