The ban on the Sindh Teachers Union by the Musharraf government under the draconian law of IRO 2002 was condemned all over the country on 14^th August, the Independence Day of Pakistan.

The student unions are already banned in all colleges and universities of Pakistan and now the Musharraf regime has also banned the teachers union in Sindh while the remaining provinces are getting ready to implement this ban. This ban reveals their motive of selling the educational institutions to private owners. As is always the case privatisation is accompanied by downsizing and other anti-labour measures.

The Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign chose 14^th August, the Independence Day of Pakistan, to protest against this measure. Students, teachers and workers gathered in almost all the major cities of Pakistan to condemn this ban.

Quetta

Nearly one hundred women, children and workers gathered in front of the Press Club to protest against this ban. Nazar Mengal of PTUDC; Malik Imtiaz, president of the Peoples Labour Bureau Baluchistan; Khair Muhammad Shaheen, president of the Baluchistan Teachers Union; Sajid Lodhi of PTCL Line Union and Ali Raza Mangol of Para medical staff association addressed the protesters. The speakers said that today the rulers are celebrating Independence Day while workers and poor people are suffering. They condemned the Draconian Law of IRO 2002 and demanded that it should be scrapped immediately. They also condemned the policy of privatisation.

The protesters also hailed slogans against the newly passed Finance Bill in which the working hours are increased from 8 hours to 12 hours.

While this protest was going on another group, including young men, women and children, came there to protest in front of the Press Club. These people were protesting against the army aggression in Baluchistan. They were hailing slogans against the army and secret services operating there.

When members of PTUDC and YFIS asked about the problems of these young men, they were told that many young men have been kidnapped by secret services operating in Baluchistan and they have been missing for a long time. Some are missing for even more than three years.

After that PTUDC and YFIS joined them in their protest and demanded that Misri Khan Marri, Muneer Ahmed Mengal and other young people of the area who are kidnapped by the army should be released immediately.

All the protesters shouted slogans against the policies of the Musharraf regime and demanded that army aggression should be immediately stopped in Baluchistan and the construction of new cantonments to harass the people should be stopped immediately.

Lahore 

In Lahore also, workers and students gathered in front of the Press club to protest against the ban on the Sindh Teachers Union. Students representing the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Punjab University Lahore and other educational institutions were present, as well as workers from PTCL, Railways and other trade unions. Comrade Zohaib Butt of the Jobless Youth Movement (Berozgar Nojwan Tehreek) addressed the protesters and said that as long as the masses are hungry this Independence is a farce. He condemned the ban on the Sindh Teachers Union and said that this government has already banned the students unions in all educational institutions and now it is turning towards teachers. He said that only workers and youth united against this ruling class can secure the rights of masses. He said that the only way forward is a struggle for socialist revolution.

Comrade Ilyas Amin of PTUDC in his address severely condemned the privatisation policy of the IMF and the World Bank, which is blindly followed by the rulers of this country. He said that the ban on the Sindh Teachers Union is a part of this privatisation policy. He urged all the workers to get united and fight against this cruel system.

Kot Addu

A protest was organised here in front of the Press Club. Comrade Ali Akbar of PTCL, Abid from KAPCO, Anjum Hussain from the Teachers Union, Tasneem Chishti of POD and Amin Chishti of APCA addressed at the occasion and demanded to end the ban on the Teachers Union.

Tandoo Muhammad Khan

Here also a protest was organised by the PTUDC in front of the Press Club. Leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Teachers Union attended the protest. Comrade Harish and Comrade Mustafa addressed the protesters and demanded to end the ban on the Sindh Teachers Union. They also condemned the privatisation policy of the government.

Meer pur Khas

PTUDC organised a protest here in front of the Press Club. Comrade Parshotum Das, Comrade Khalid Hussain, Sakhawat Hussain Talkh of IHRC, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Noor ud din Panhwar, Abdul Hameed Sheikh, Zahoor Leghari, Kishan, Akbar Panhwar addressed the protesters. All the speakers demanded an end to this ban.

Karachi

 PTUDC Karachi arranged a protest in front of the Karachi Press Club to lift the ban on the Sindh Teachers Union. People from all walks of life were present at this occasion. Workers from the Pakistan Steel Mills also attended the protest. Seikh Majeed from the Peoples Labour Bureau and Raheel Iqbal of the Pakistan Peoples Party addressed the protest and condemned the policy of privatisation and demanded to lift ban from all trade unions.

Hyderabad

PTUDC and BNT organized a protest in front of the Press Club against the ban on the Sindh Teachers Union. The protesters were holding banners and placards on which slogans were written against this ban.

Comrade Nisar Chandio of PTUDC addressed the protesters and said that the Finance Bill is the economic massacre of all workers and that the rulers of Pakistan were implementing the policies of the imperialists. He said that by banning the teachers union, the government is heading towards privatisation of education. He said that workers can never get their freedom in this system. Therefore, the need of the day is that "we should mobilise the masses against the capitalist system and replace it with a socialist economy".

Comrade Jam Saqi in his address said that poverty, unemployment and price hike are sky rocketing in this country while the rulers are talking of unprecedented growth rate. This growth is the growth of the ruling class. He condemned the ban on the Sindh Teachers Union. Comrade Jabbar Subhuto in his speech also demanded to lift this ban.

PTUDC Hyderabad also published a leaflet against this ban. In this leaflet the following demands were made.

1.      End the ban on the Teachers Union immediately

2.      All Anti-Labour Laws including IRO 2002 should be eliminated

3.      Every department should be given the right to form unions

4.      Accept the charter of Demand of Teachers

5.      Education should be free on all levels

6.      Every jobless youth be given employment or an unemployment allowance of 5000 rupees.

7.      End the ban on Student Unions

8.      End the contract system and all workers be given permanent employment

9.      Army and police should stop interfering in all institutions