PAKISTAN: Conference to call for democracy's restoration

LAHORE — Progressive groups have called a conference for October 12, the first anniversary of the military's takeover of Pakistan, to demand the restoration of democracy.

Twenty-five political parties, excluding the religious parties, have been invited to participate in the conference, which will be held at the Lahore Press Club. Most of central leaders of these 25 parties have already agreed to participate.

The committee organising the conference includes prominent human rights advocates and leftists. The six committee members are Asma Jehangir, former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan; Abid Saqi, secretary of the Lahore High Court Bar Association; Rashid Rehman, the convenor of the Social Democratic Movement of Pakistan; Abdul Majeed Kanjoo, the president of the Saraiki National Party; IA Rehman, the director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan; and Farooq Tariq, the general secretary of the Labour Party Pakistan.

The political parties will assert pressure on the military regime to return to barracks and immediately announce general elections.

Most national trade unions and non-government organisations will also be invited to participate in the conference.

Organisers are asking that political parties, groups, NGOs, trade unions and even individuals send solidarity messages to the conference, which will be issued to the Pakistani press and printed as part of the conference brochure. Messages can be emailed to <labour.pakistan@usa.net>.

BY FAROOQ TARIQ

From GLW issue 423