RAWALPINDI: Activists of Pakistan Mazdoor Kisan Party (PMKP) staged a protest in Liaquat Bagh on Sunday at the conclusion of their eight-day march against inflation and price hike.

They had started the march from Lahore on July 21 to record their protest against the rising prices of essential commodities and the government’s economic policies.

They were also joined by other progressive forces, including Awami Workers Party (AWP). A large number of people attended the demonstration in front of the National Press Club’s Rawalpindi Camp, which later turned into a public meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, AWP President Yousuf Masti Khan thanked the PMKP for organising this march to inform people about the anti-poor budget and economic policies of the government, which had been affecting the working classes of this country.

AWP deputy general secretary Ismat Raza Shahjahan lambasted the manner in which the mainstream politics seemed to be devoid of any meaningful debate on issues being faced by ordinary people.

He said when Pakistan signed its latest financial bailout agreement with the IMF, the debate centered around the usual discourse of looted wealth, corruption and demonisation of politicians.

He added that in fact the country had gone to the IMF for a bailout 13 times since late 1980s.

“Every time we are told that this will be the last time and that the entire fault for the financial crisis lies with the corruption of the previous government,” he said.

AWP Punjab president Dr Aasim Sajjad Akhtar criticised the superficial debate on economy by saying that this framing of the crisis only diverted attention from the real issues such as inadequate industrial and economic planning that led to periodic crises in different sectors.

AWP leader Alia Amir Ali said the government had tried to depoliticise economic policy by turning it into a matter of technocratic expertise. She added that in reality economic matters were deeply political and should be marked by democratic principles and debate.

PMKP general secretary Taimur Rahman thanked AWP for participating in the march.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2019