Pakistan anti-war activists demonstrate

LAHORE, Pakistan — The Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) organised a successful demonstration against the arms race on May 27. The action attracted more than 250 people despite police and government harassment. It was the only such demonstration organised by a political party.

The protesters raised slogans against the arms race and demanded an immediate end to the war between Pakistan and India. This received a good response from the people in the area.

Dr Mubasher Hassan, convener of the Pakistan India Forum for Peace and Democracy and a former federal finance minister demanded the handing over the war prisoners and UN intervention in the dispute. LPP general secretary Farooq Tariq told the rally that the governments of India and Pakistan are playing with the lives of millions by promoting war and the nuclear arms race for their own political and economic ends.

The Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party participated in the demonstration, as did the Joint Action Committee for People's Rights, an alliance of 28 non-government organisation and three political parties (including the LPP). Representatives from most NGOs also supported the protest.

The demonstration coincided with government celebrations of the anniversary of its first nuclear test. Millions of rupees were spent on government propaganda about how strong Pakistan has become and how the atomic bomb is a solution to all problems.

However, the demonstration showed that the anti-nuclear movement is not dead in Pakistan.

From GLW issue 363