Left Unity in Britain and lesson of the Awami Workers Party Pakistan
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Can we build a united left movement in Britain? This is most common question in left circles in the UK and elsewhere. Left mergers in Pakistan particularly the formation of Workers Party in 2010 and Awami Workers Party in 2012 is considered as a test case. Therefore, consolidation of AWP is important for the entire Left activist working towards unity in Britain.
Socialist Resistance UK and the International Socialist Network jointly hosted a public meeting at Leeds University on Wednesday, the 29th May. The topic was “Left Unity in Brittan – Lessons from Awami Workers Party Pakistan”.
The meeting was chaired by Garth Frankland, a regional leader of the Socialist Resistance.
Organisers circulated an article of K. Govindan, Nava Sama Samaja Party, Sri Lanka dated 05 January 2013 to prepare participants for this meeting.
The invited two local activists of Awami Workers Party as Guest speakers; Mohsin Zulfiqar, General Secretary of Awami Workers Party (Pakistan) North England and Pervez Fateh the National Co-ordinator of South Asian Peoples Forum.
Mohsin and Pervez gave a brief introduction on the socio-political situation of Pakistan and history of left movement. The explained the political grip of feudal, military establishment and religious mafia in Pakistan. This troika has been in rule in Pakistan since its formation in 1947.
They explained that party is still under process of formation and its first congress was planned for 30-Apr to 1st May 2013. During this period general election were announced and congress was rescheduled by the Federal Committee of the party for 26-27 September 2013.
There was an extensive debate within the party whether to participate in these general elections or concentrate on party formation and start election politics from next local elections to make space for left politics at gross root level. After consultation with provincial committees, the Federal Secretariat of the party decided to participate in these elections and moved forward party congress. A number of Party candidates fought the General Elections through the country. This enabled Party to take its message to large number of people.
Party candidates contested on 13 National Assembly, 11 Khaiber Pukhtoon Khawa assembly, 12 Punjab assembly and 2 Sindh Assembly seats and secured 36,076 votes.
After 60 minutes of presentation by the speakers; extensive question answer session was held for about 1.30 hours.
The most typical questions were as follows:
What is the future of this merger?
What are the bases of this merger?
What were the key motives for this merger?
Do you think a united party of the Trotskyite, pro-Moscow and pro-China communist groupings can sustain?
Why it was decided to build party from bottom?
What is the situation of Working Class in Pakistan?
What influence new party have in Peasants?
What influence new party have in the cities?
After long discussion it was agreed to organise a follow-up public meeting in September or October after 1st congress of Awami Workers Party.
For and on behalf of Awami Workers Party (Pakistan), North England.
Pervez Fateh
Mohsin Zulfiqar