RAWALPINDI, Nov 9: A new political party was born on Sunday and its founder members claimed that it would be different from traditional political parties of the elite as it would take forward the cause of the workers and other downtrodden sections of the society.

Reminding many of the days when socialist thoughts and slogans were quite attractive, a large group of leftist workers, activists and their supporters from many socially conscious groups from all over the country got together in Rawalpindi, and after days of deliberations, announced on Saturday the formation of, what will be called the ‘Awami Party’.

The determination of its founders was that it will be ‘Awami’ (Peoples) in the true sense of the word, and that is exactly what is reflected in their founding declaration.

Announcing its formation in the presence of scores of party activists, convener of party’s interim executive committee, Dr Hasan Nasir, said the progressive minded political workers from all over the country had come up with the idea to set up a new political outfit as the present political parties had failed to address the basic issues of the people.

The gathering had all signs of the pre-cold war days when such left-wing gatherings were attended with committed workers with zeal and enthusiasm. Whether such a momentum can be generated by this group remains unclear, but its founding leaders appeared quite committed, and promised to soon come out with a party manifesto to highlight their political ideology and programme.

Giving a brief background of how in the present day politics such a concept of having a workers’ party originated, they said it all started in December 2005 when a group of political workers came together to form the Inqilabi Jamhoori Workers Committee. With its focus on safeguarding the rights and promoting equitable progress and development of the people of Pakistan specifically those of the working people, different national entities, women and religious minorities, the committee gradually attracted like-minded and enlightened political workers and progressive and forward looking citizens of the country from all walks of life ranging from political activists, academics and scholars to peasants, workers, teachers, writers and artists.

Reading from the Party Declaration, one of its interim committee members, Harris Khalique said the progressive minded, social and political workers had decided to shape a separate political entity as the major political parties favoured the present system of status quo, the religious political setups had been too rigid and narrow-minded in their views to tolerate the progressive ideas and the nationalist parties were too scattered to play an active role in national politics.

The declaration of the new party said Awami Party aimed at a free, independent, prosperous and progressive Pakistan with strong federation. The party wanted a society free of every kind of exploitation with no religious bigotry and believed in peaceful political and democratic struggle to achieve its goals.

Responding to a question, they said the party would be financed through funds collected by the members.

As part of its first familiarisation campaign, they announced that the Awami Party would launch ‘Roti rallies’ from November 13 all over the country demanding the same price of Roti in all four provinces as it was in Punjab.

Senior journalist Mazhar Arif, Ashfaq Saleem Mirza, Ramazan Memon, Rao Mustajab and Rao Tariq Lateef were also present.