Islamabad: A protest rally, organized by the Awami Workers Party (AWP) and trade unions, was held at Aabpara Chowk, on Saturday (17th Aug) against the sharp increase in the prices of electricity, inflation, economic injustice, unemployment as well as violation of basic human rights. The protest march was attended by general public, leaders of progressive parties, trade unions, students, and women’s organizations.
The protesters demanded that to prevent Pakistan’s economic decline, the government should stop capacity payments to private power plants, audit all IPPs for overcharging, and make them renegotiate their contracts. If IPPs continue with their destructive policy, they should be nationalized to save Pakistan from complete economic collapse.
The protest also called attention to the economic fallout for working people due to the internet slowdown. A large number of young working people who rely on digital freelancing for their livelihoods have been left completely devastated, the latest example of how so-called ‘national security’ concerns continue to trump the real needs and aspirations of Pakistan’s people.
Iqbal Jahan, General Secretary, AWP Rawalpindi-Islamabad said that today Pakistan is facing the worst economic and social crisis in its 77-year history, because of high inflation the working and lower middle-class people are forced to commit suicides. Global imperialists as well as Pakistan’s own ruling class are responsible for this disaster. He urged common people to rise up against international financial institutions, the military establishment, bureaucrats, landlords, capitalists, and private power generation companies.
Zeeshan Ahmed, deputy secretary AWP Rwp-Isb said that the capacity payment to IPPs is extracted from the pockets of the common people through various taxes, increase in electricity, petrol, diesel, and sugar prices. Currently, working class people are paying more electricity bills than they are paying house rent. Meanwhile the rich and powerful grab lands and make billions from real estate, pay no tax and visit untold repression on anyone who challenges them.
Qazi Hakeem leader AWP, said that said that the current power crisis and sharp rise in bills are a result of the neoliberal development prescription imposed on Pakistan by the IMF and the power generation’s privatisation. He said that 22 private power companies generate expensive electricity, and the government puts the entire burden on the consumers.
Dr Farzana Bari said that due to inflation, working women are being affected the most. Violence and extremism are increasing due to suffocation in the society, incidents of violence against the marginalized citizens, women, children, and trans-communities are increasing. She voiced AWP’s support for women-led rights movements like the Baloch Yekjehti Committee which is speaking up for all ethnic peripheries and working masses.
Ammar Rashid leader AWP appealed to all democratic, progressive parties as well as working class, youth, students, and small traders to get united and get the country out of the current crises, resist the rent seeking policy of the ruling elite, capture of land and natural resources and selling them to foreign capitalists and struggle for creating a socialist, people’s democratic, humane and just system. He also demanded that demolition of shelters in katchi abadis in Islamabad should be stopped and the SC verdict on the provision of alternative housing to dwellers of informal settlements should be ensured.