KARACHI: Speakers at a conference on Sunday marking the completion of 50 years of the famous movement of 1968 against the military regime said that the movement was a symbol of struggle against capitalism, imperialism and dictatorship and still inspired people.

The programme was organised by the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) on its premises, which was attended by a large number of workers, home-based workers, youth, activists and intellectuals.

They paid rich tribute to martyrs of the movement and workers, political activists, and students who had taken part in the movement during 1968-69 that eventually brought down Ayub Khan’s regime.

The speakers said like such movements across the world, the 1968 movement in Pakistan emerged as a symbol of struggle against imperialism, capitalism and dictatorship.

They said as a result of that movement spearheaded by workers, peasants, students and other people belonging to the oppressed class, the country got rid of the first military dictatorship and the notorious One-Unit.

They said in the prevailing circumstances, students, workers, peasants and other oppressed people could again be united to fight against capitalism and imperialism in Pakistan and challenge any potential dictatorship.

Usman Baloch, a trade unionist, said it was the first-ever resistance movement in Pakistan, which was led by the working class and masses, who challenged Ayub Khan at the time when his regime was very strong.

“It, basically, was against the undemocratic rule, some 20 capitalist families who had gripped Pakistan’s economy and the dominance of imperialist forces and their international monetary institutions over Pakistan.”

He said students, journalists, workers and peasants played a central role in the movement.

“It was the first movement against social, political and economic injustices, which was waged against the military dictator simultaneously in the erstwhile East and West Pakistan. As a result, 239 people lost their lives and the military dictator was eventually forced to step down.”

Dr Riaz Shaikh of the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology said General Ayub Khan, however, instead of following his self-styled constitution did not hand over the power to the then Speaker of the Assembly, but, handed it over to another military General Yahya Khan.

“However, due to incessant pressure of the movement, Gen Yahya was compelled to hold the general elections. This was the pressure of this movement that elections were held on the principle of one person one vote and they were held free and fair to some extent and all the status quo parties faced defeat in them.”

However, he said, the military dictator instead of handing over the power to the elected representatives preferred to launch a military action against the people in Bengal, which resulted in grave consequences.

Dr Shaikh said the political governments that came later also took care of their own class interests and went against the electoral promises they made with their constituents and manifestoes that offered democratic, social and human rights.

“Those governments encouraged the anti-people forces to flourish, which resulted in series of dictatorships, which were challenged and defeated by the people.”

Nasir Mansoor, deputy secretary general, NTUF, said the worst capitalist oppression still haunted the country and was targeting the working class people.

“People are deprived of the basic facilities of life, but the number of billionaires here is on the rise. The basic rights of people are being snatched due to capitalist pressure and dictations of international capitalist institutions.”

He said the elite class was suppressing the democratic voices and “bringing their puppet political organisations upon the masses, which is a bad omen”.

Mr Mansoor said today, media was under immense pressure like 1968.

“There is an unannounced censorship on media. Trade unions are being eliminated systematically. Education is beyond the reach of the common man while the educational institutions are under tight control. Dark conspiracies are again being hatched to change the federation into another one-unit.”

He said the present situation sooner or later would result into a big mass resistance movement, which would raze the fortresses of capitalism, imperialism and dictatorship to the ground.

National Labour Council general secretary Karamat Ali also spoke.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2018