Pakistan: Rally against Talibanisation & terrorism

By Farooq Tariq
Lahore, April 4, 2009: More than 2000 people joined a rally in Lahore against Talibanisation and terrorism. The rally was organised by Citizens of Lahore, a loose platform of different social, political and trade unions organization. The rally started from General Post Office Chowk (GPO) and ended at Charing Cross on Mall Road Lahore. The majority of the participants were women and youth.
A lot of banners and placards were carried by the rally participants. Slogans raised by the participants were: No to Talbanisation, no to terrorism!; Stop flogging women!; Behind terrorism is a uniform, are dying of hunger because General Head Quarters (GHQ) is taking it all!; No to religious fundamentalism, no to state terrorism, we want peace!; People united will never be defeated!

"Speakers condemned the flogging of women in Swat and acts of terrorism by religious fundamentalists. They condemned the drone attack by Americans as well. They announced the launch of a national movement against Talibanisation of the society."

Asma Jehanghir, chairperson Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Salima Hashmi daughter of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ghulam Abbas of Pakistan Peoples Party, Yousaf Baluch chairman National Trade Union Federation, Tehseen of South Asia Partnership, Tanvir Jahan of Youth Commission for Human Development, Sher Mohammed of Swat, Iqbal Haider of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Jugnu Mohsan of Women Action Forum and myself spoke at the end of rally.
Speakers condemned the flogging of women in Swat and acts of terrorism by religious fundamentalists. They condemned the drone attack by Americans as well. They announced the launch of a national movement against Talibanisation of the society.
This was the main theme of the speakers: The Taliban are not anti-imperialist, they are neo-fascist and forces of suppression, we have to fight them. But terrorism can not be defeated by more terrorism. We have to mobilise people to fight both state terrorism and Taliban terrorism.
The protest was broadcast live by most of the television channels.

The Labour Party Pakistan (LPP), Labour Education Foundation, National Trade Union Federation and Women Workers Help Line mobilised several hundreds for the rally.
The key speaker was Asma Jehanghir, who lambasted the menace of extremist. She said the women of Pakistan will not tolerate the floggings of women. It is an open war with the fanatics. We will mobilise all over Pakistan. She condemned the PPP government for making so-called peace agreement with the fanatics in Swat.

Farooq Tariq is Spokesperson for the Labour Party Pakistan