KARACHI, Feb 5: Various non-government organizations at a meeting condemning the continuous occupation of Iraq by the United States have demanded for an immediate withdrawal of imperialist forces so Iraqis could freely rule their own country.
The meeting organized by Stop The War Coalition (STWC), an alliance of various NGOs, at the Karachi Press Club also announced to organize various programmes including a protest rally on March 18, which would mark the third anniversary of launching of the war by the US and its allies against Iraq, to protest against the continuous occupation of a sovereign nation by a super power.
A resolution, adopted unanimously by the meeting chaired by Wahid Bashir, says: “Public protest against the imperialist war on Iraq: March 18 is the date when three years ago imperialist USA and its allies imposed an illegal and immoral war on Iraq.
“This blatant barbarism has led to the killings of thousands of Iraqis and even more were injured, maimed, orphaned and displaced. The war on Iraq is waged by the same forces that have occupied Afghanistan.
“Again on March 18, 2006, we the conscious people under ‘Stop the War Coalition’ will protest in all major cities of the world. In Pakistan, it is also the responsibility of conscious people that like other pro-peace peoples throughout the world, we should also raise the slogan of humanity and call for an end to the war.”
An organization ‘Stop the War Coalition – Pakistan’ was also formed at the meeting. Wahid Bashir was elected its convener, while Ali Yawar and Riaz Ahmad were elected its coordinators. The next meeting will be held at the Press Club on Feb 17.
The organizations, representatives of which attended the meeting, included: the National Workers Party, Irtiqa Forum, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Communist Party of Pakistan, Karachi Press Club, Sindh High Court Bar Association, KESC Labour Union, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, Socialist Movement, People’s Labour Bureau, Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign, Youth for International Socialism, Democratic Women’s Association, Roots for Equity, Irtiqa Adabi Forum, International Socialist Pakistan, Irtiqa Institute, Railway Workers Union, Labour Education Pakistan, Labour Party Pakistan, Pak Trade Union, KESC Peoples Labour Union, etc.
