CID report on the CPP 1952

This is a preface of the report compiled by the DIG of the CID in 1952 on the Communist party of Pakistan. It gives an idea of how the Party’s most bitterest of enemies looked upon it and the kind of work  Sajjad Zaheer and his companions did to erect an efficient party organization within a span of 3 years. The actual report comprised 6 volumes and is to this day within the classified archives of the state. The credit is due to Rauf Malik, of Peoples Publishing House, who through his painstaking efforts has been able to secure only the preface of this document. 

Preface

It hardly seems necessary to enlarge on the purpose and usefulness of this book. Communism is the most inexorable and momentous political force in the contemporary world: it’s strength and potentialities are after under-estimated. In Pakistan the complacency is partly due to the common belief that Islam and communism are incompatible. How many people realize that the Muslims of the southern states of the U.S.S.R and China could not avert its advent? Malay, despite its Muslim population is engaged in a grueling life and death struggle; in Iran the Tudeh Party is gathering strength: in Egypt the horizon becomes marked with red streaks. Strangest of all, Afghanistan, in spite of its despotic masters, has a nucleus of a party whose leader, at any rate, hopes to overthrow the existing regime (details are given later). The threat of the Red expansion is now turning towards India. Guerrillas battled for years with armed forces in the States of Hyderabad and Madras and kept them at bay. In certain provincial assemblies enough communist M.L.A’s have been returned as to hold the balance of power. These factors must have their effect in Pakistan.

2. After the partition, the communist party in Pakistan lost all its veteran workers and was left without financial resources; yet within three years, a powerful party machine has been built up. The budget of the party is perhaps only next to that of the Muslim League. It employs more paid works than any other political party. New links have been forged and work organized amongst students, factory workers, other laborers, Kissans and writers, including journalists. Two candidates were put up for the last assembly elections. Innumerable strikes, processions and demonstrations have been organized. Class consciousness, which was unknown in these parts, has been developed and a distrust of the British created. Sajjad Zaheer, at any rate felt so sure of himself that in February 1951, he decided to plunge his party into the conspiracy hatched at Rawalpindi.

3. Very little is known about the working of the party machine, its underground methods, its insidious technique, the fanatic zeal of its followers and their single mindedness of purpose. This book reproduces some of the most intimate and closely guarded party documents. The books will give an insight into party secrets and its method of working. It dwells also on party ramifications and the manner in which the foundations of the existing order are being furtively undermined. The book is written with the hope that it will create a better appreciation of one of the most pressing problems of our time.
Lahore.

Dated the 18th March, 1952
M. Anwer Ali
Deputy Inspector General Police
Criminal Investigation Department
Punjab.

National Democratic Revolution

by Danish Khan

When we try to investigate the region of South Asia, the conflict of the Jammu and Kashmir flashes our imagination. More than 100,000 lives have been lost in the bloodiest dispute of the Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan. It will not be wrong to say that the establishments of both India and Pakistan working on the agenda of Imperial powers have exploited the conflict of Kashmir as a popular tool to keep millions of people of the sub-continent under the clouds of darkness, poverty and misery. While during all this time the people who have been most affected by this ever lasting dispute are the unfortunate people of the Jammu and Kashmir. It is essential that the legacy of Kashmir dispute should be put to an end, and a new dawn should emerge from the beautiful mountains of Kashmir which will ensure a prosperous and peaceful future for the coming generations of sub continent.

The present status of the Jammu and Kashmir is similar to a neo-colony. When I will use the term Kashmir, I am referring to the whole region of the Jammu and Kashmir. The armed forces of both India and Pakistan have occupied the territory of the Kashmir. The people of Kashmir have been denied from their basic civic liberties. To make sure the status quo in the Kashmir, the India and Pakistan are spending almost three forth of their economic budget on the military. If we analyze the means of production of the Kashmir they are pre-capitalist in nature. In these harsh realities it is inevitable that only the scientific knowledge of Marxism-Leninism has a potential to emancipate the most oppressed and exploited people of the Kashmir. In the light of Marxism-Leninism a “National Democratic Revolution” can solve this conflict by emancipating the people of Kashmir from occupation, oppression and exploitation. National Democratic Revolution in Kashmir can also trickle starts the series of “people’s democratic revolution” in the sub-continent. Because the defeat of arm forces of India and Pakistan in Kashmir can only weaken their stranglehold in their own countries respectively. Thus it will be a huge opening for the people’s movement in India and Pakistan to take control of the state affairs and close all doors for Imperialism.

The London Meet on Afghanistan

 by Yohannan Chemarapally

(People’s Democracy)

THE London Conference on Afghanistan held in the last week of January was supposed to plan out a coherent “exit strategy” for the West out of the quagmire it finds itself in. Instead, the conference has only succeeded in sending out confusing signals to the international community. While there was a lot of talk of engaging with the “good Taliban there was also a continued emphasis on a military solution to the conflict.

However, the desperation to get out of Afghanistan was tangible from the statements of most Western leaders present at the meeting. The willingness to open a dialogue with the “good Taliban” to find a political solution was an indication of the prevailing pessimistic mood. But with a political or military solution nowhere in sight it was evident that the military occupation of Afghanistan would continue for another five years at least. The Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, in fact wants foreign troops to be around for a minimum of 15 years. He reiterated this demand once again in London. More than 70 countries, along with the European Union, NATO and the UN attended the London Conference. The EU and NATO officials were critical about Karzai’s 15 year time line for withdrawal.

It is evident that the grandiose promise of President Barak Obama to withdraw all American troops by 2011 is no longer a feasible proposition. With the militarily ascendant Taliban refusing to be drawn into a dialogue, the conditions on the ground will mean that US troops will continue to be stationed in Afghanistan beyond the deadline set by President Obama. The 10,000 additional NATO troops from European countries that Washington expected to be deployed in Afghanistan as part of the military surge, does not seem to be materialising. France has announced that it will not be sending any more troops to Afghanistan. Germany has promised only 500 more troops while the Dutch are on the verge of pulling out all their 2000 soldiers out of Afghanistan.

Communist Party of Pakistan, Circular, 29th, October 2009.

The tussle between the elected institutions of Pakistan and the undemocratic, forces of obscurantism and regression has gained greater momentum causing chaos and & uncertainty, which has unfolded in the recent boondoggle of the Army’s General Head Quarter (GHQ) and civilian presidency, forcing the civilian administration to refrain from public welfare and democratic dispensations.

Similarly the differences between the civilian administration of the US President Mr. Obama Hussein and the military complex of PANTAGON, is now a day light matter.

The sheer lack of acumen, in addition to political infancy on the part of the civilian government of Pakistan, has offered an excellent opportunity for the undemocratic forces of medievalism, and fundamentalism to hatch overt and covert ploys, to uproot the democratically elected infrastructure.
The present democratic political government bodies, certainly came into being as result of the out of way reaction shown by the people of Sindh province over the then heinous assassination of the twice former prime minister of Pakistan Ms. Benazir Bhutto at the hands of described above forces of infinite evil.

These undemocratic obscurantism forces have now conceived to launch a stalemating blow on the government, by ruse engineered anti govt echoes from sindh, so as to replicate that, the people of Sindh have now withdrawn their support and mandate for the elected government as incompetent and clumsy in the matters of governance. This press statement was issued by comrade Imdad Qazi, a central spokesperson of the Communist Party of Pakistan at the conclusion of the central secretariat meeting at the party’s central secretariat office at, Nasim Nagar -111/ D, Hydrabad .

The meeting was chaired by Secretary General, comrade Chacha Maula Bux Khaskheli .

Comrade Qazi, further disclosed, that the central leadership of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N)has also gone split away into two poles, as the meeting of Army chief General Kyani, with Ch. Nisar and Shahbaz Sharif indicates their slip towards the undemocratic antagonistic camp, where the other half, pretends to hold the present political dispensation intact seeking the role of legitimate parliamentary opposition .

Comrade Qazi, hence forth highlighted that, the unfortunate sheer indifferent attitude of the Pakistan peoples party’s govt about the urgent public issues, like its predecessors PML-Q has shocked the people, which will end up in total devastation and regress of the infantile democratic infrastructures . With this, CPP demands the PPP govt, to address the people’s needs, lower the prices for sugar, flour, edible oil, utility and petroleum products as the present sky rocketing inflationary and devaluation of the national currency has broken the purchasing back bone of the common people, so its better the govt halt dragging the people towards beggary and create working, job opportunities in order to reinstate the people’s trust in the democratic dispensations.

Women’s Revolution

by Danish Khan

The science of Genetics and Human Anatomy can not rationalize the oppression faced by women, and their supposed inferiority relative to the men in today’s society. The oppression and exploitation of women are not rooted in their biology, instead they are originated from certain socio-economic conditions. If you travel across the globe you will see women in different roles and in different clothing. But the one thing that all women share in common is the highest degree of oppression and exploitation. It is true that in advanced industrialist societies women are enjoying relatively more freedom and rights as compared to the ones in underdeveloped feudal remnant societies.

To understand the discrimination and the oppression of women in advanced Capitalist countries, we need to completely understand their economic system which is Capitalism. Capitalism depends on the subjugation of women for its very survival. Sexism, racism and every other divisive tool the capitalists possess are vital wedges needed to drive apart male workers from their female comrades in order to prevent the rise of Workers Unity that can defeat this system of oppression. Women have been stringed in such an intense and rigorous life style, they have to take care of their children, home and they also have to work to make both ends meet. Shouldering this extra weight leaves the women workers with little free time to become politically active. This leads women to being forced into the most exploitative living conditions.

While on the other hand when we analyze the material conditions of women of Pakistan and Kashmir, it really reflects the true nature of feudal remnants and tribalism. Women in our society are the most vulnerable creatures. They have been restrained from any economic activity which results in to their role as secondary citizens. Women in our societies are still living in the slavery mode. The ruling class of the country is taking the most advantage of this miserable situation of 49% of the population.

Women in Pakistan and Kashmir are living under strict religious, family and tribal customs that essentially force them to live in submission and fear. Women are subjected to discrimination and violence on a daily basis due to the cultural and religious norms which are the by product of the socio-economic system. According to the recent report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, only 2 percent of Pakistani women participate in the formal sector of employment. 93 percent of rural women and 72 percent of urban women are illiterate. The Male dominance and commodification subjects women to violence on a daily basis in Pakistan. Approximately 70 to 90 percent of Pakistani women are subjected to domestic violence. The murder in the name of “honor,” is one of the worst practices of our society. The rape occurs in Pakistan every two hours with one in every 12,500 women being victims of rape. Five women per day are killed. These are the drastic and terrifying statistics pleading to us to take immediate action for the emancipation of these oppressed women. Although there are feminist groups working in Pakistan but they are funded by certain lobby groups, thus their efforts and willingness is very limited because they are trying to improve the living conditions of women in the jurisdiction of the present socio economic system. Thus the only real hope for the emancipation of oppressed women is the revolutionary Marxists of the country. While a common theme shared by liberal feminist groups and the conservatives that men and women have competing interests. We totally reject this kind of thinking, we understand that Bourgeois class has an interest in maintaining gender divisions, while we Marxists have an interest in breaking them down. We fight along class lines for justice and equality not because as some academics have asserted, “Marxism doesn’t understand the women’s struggle”, but for precisely the opposite reason. Marxism is infused with over 150 years of experience in the struggle against the exploitation and oppression of women. In February 1917, it was the women of Petrograd who marched from factory to factor, rousing their sons, brothers and fathers out into the streets. In February 2009, two Iranian female political activists were sentenced to 100 lashes in public for attending a May Day rally.

It is understood that in the limits of the present socio economic system it is almost impossible to improve the living conditions of women. The only real solution to the problems of Pakistani and Kashmiri women is the revolutionary Marxism. We believe there can be no revolution without the emancipation of women. The progressive revolutionary movement is starting to revive again in our society. It is the prerequisite of our revolution to educate and aware our women. We believe women are going to play the most decisive role in the success of our Red Revolution.

LEASING OR SELLING PAKISTAN?

Press Release

Karachi, Oct 2: At a time when the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government seems to be bent upon bartering away the strategic, political and economic ownership in the name of boosting financial resources, pro-people and patriotic political forces of Pakistan are perturbed over the rationale of the so-called ruling elite devoid of national interests and self-respect.

To resist the government’s latest move to lease 0.6 million acres of land to oil rich Saudi Arabia and one million acres to American and European investors, an important meeting of the representative of the National Workers Party, Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party Pakistan, Communist Party of Pakistan and Awami Party was held here at the residence of Yusuf Musti Khan, Vice President of the National Workers Party. The meeting was presided over by General Secretary, Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party, Comrade Ejaz Ghani.

The meeting took a serious notice of a devastating design under which the agricultural land would be sold or leased to foreign investors under the cover of bagging foreign investment, the ultimate outcome of which would culminate into losing the national grip of Pakistan’s ownership. This will not enhance agricultural production but is destined to be ominous for agricultural sector, jolting the very foundation of national sovereignty.

A plan of action against the nefarious government’s move was adopted and the modus operandi to resist it would be finalized within a few days.
Those attended the meeting included Akhtar Hussain, Usman Baloch and Ishtiaq Azmi (NWP); Mansoor Saeed & Dr. Mazhar Hyder (CPP); A.R.Arif & Zafar Aslam (CMKP); Ramzan Memon (AP); Zaheer Akhtar Bedri (writer & columnist) and others.

Issued by:
Zafar Aslam (CMKP)

On Pakistan and National Unity

Resolution passed by the Enlarged Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India on the 19th September 1942, and confirmed by the First Congress of the Communist Party of India in May 1943.

All-India national unity based on communal harmony and Congress-League joint front is today an urent and pressing necessity to solve the present national crisis, to win national government from the hands of the British imperialist bureaucracy and to defend our Motherland against the fascist aggressor. This has brought the controversy of pakistan versus the unity of India sharply to the forefront. The Communist Party, therefore, lays down the main principles of the Communist policy on this issue.

1. The Communist party draws together the toilers of all castes, communities and nationalities in common class organizations (Trade Unions, Kissan Sabhas, etc.). It unites them politically as the vanguard of the United national front for achieving the freedom of our country and democracy. This is the cornerstone of the policy of achieving communal unity.

2. To build the united national front of the peoples of the various communities and nationalities that inhabit India, for the defense and freedom of our country, it is necessary to dispel the mutual distrust and suspicion that exists among them. This is a remnant of memories of past historical oppression and of present social inequalities arising out of the feudal imperialist exploitation. For this purpose, the basis rights of the communities and nationalities must be made an essential part of the programme of the united national front.

3. The programme of the U.N.F. must declare that in Free India, there will be perfect equality between nationalities and communities that live together in India. There will be no oppression of one nationality by another. There will be no inequalities or disabilities based on caste or community. To ensure this the national movement must recognize the following rights as part of its programme for national unity:

Caste in Pakistan: The Elephant in the Room

by

Shahbano Aliani

A pregnant woman from a remote rural village in Tharparkar goes to a private hospital in Hyderabad. The medical staff refuse to attend to her, saying they do not want to pollute their instruments and dirty their hands. Feeling humiliated and angry, she returns to her village without having received the services she needed.

A 20 year old woman from Peshawar is brutally murdered by her brothers and father for attempting to marry outside the biradari and bringing shame to the family honour.

A young Kolhi girl is abducted while working in the cotton fields of a landlord outside Mirpurkhas. She is forced to convert to Islam and marry her abductor. The police refuse to register a case and her family is advised to remain silent for the sake of their own safety.

In a village in Southern Punjab, a young boy from a “lower-caste” is accused of dishonouring the “high caste” tribe by having an affair with one of their women. The village panchayat orders the gang rape of the boy’s sister by the “high caste’ men so that they may restore the honour of their tribe.

These stories have a familiar ring. Variants occur with alarming regularity in Pakistan; some covered by the media, but most covered up by the silence, fear and helplessness of the victims; and the indifference of the rest of society.