Pakistan

September 3, 2008: At least 20 civilians were killed when helicopter-borne American Special Operations forces attacked a Pakistani village near the border with Afghanistan early on September 3 in the first publicly acknowledged case of United States forces occupying Afghanistan conducting a ground raid on Pakistani soil.

By Nasir Mansoor
Karachi, August 28: On the call of lawyers' movement, a two-hour long Dharna [sit-in] was held at M A Jinnah Road, Karachi. It was the first protest soon after the forced exit of General Pervez Musharraf and also the fourth betrayal of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party leader Asif Ali Zardari on the issue of restoration of the Chief Justice and other judges dismissed by Musharraf.

By Bushra Khaliq
Lahore: The first ever women union, Home-Based Aurat Workers Union Pakistan” (HBAWUP) was launched here at national congress held in Lahore on August 22, 2008. The congress was jointly organized by Women Workers Helpline, Labor Education Foundation and Action Aid Pakistan.
Over 600 home-based women workers representatives from Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, NWFP and Azad Kashmir participated in the congress. Speaking at the congress the women workers narrated stories of their pathetic working conditions. They expressed hope that the union would help resolve their problems. The congress elected 31-member national committee and 11-member executive committee.

By Farooq Sulehria
Victory at last!
It was all hugs and celebrations, in Pakistan, on August 18. After nine long years, Pakistan's fourth military dictator, General Musharraf, had been humbled by the masses. History was repeating itself yet again: yet again a US-backed military ruler had to bow out in the face of mass democracy movement. Never mind if such images were not flashed on CNN screens. Never mind if corporate media was predicting chaos in Pakistan-after-Musharraf instead of glorifying the "judicial Intifada" in Pakistan that caught hold of Pakistan last year and forced general Musharraf to resign.

By Farooq Tariq
LAHORE, August 19, 2008: Thousands across Pakistan celebrated the humiliating departure of dictator Pervez Musharraf on August 18, 2008. As he announced his resignation - in an unscheduled nationally televised speech of one hour - private television channels showed an instant response of jubilation and welcoming the decision in all four provinces. General (retired) Musharraf resigned as president of Pakistan as he was facing an impeachment move by the Pakistan Peoples Party-led ruling alliance of four parties.

By Farooq Tariq
Musharraf has resigned! Congratulations to everyone on the humiliating departure of a dictator. But he must not be unaccountable. He must be arrested and tried. The top judges he removed should be restored immediately and let justice be done. The Pakistan Peoples Party-led ruling alliance must abandon the economic policies that have been promoted by Musharraf. The neoliberal agenda must not go ahead.

By Farooq Tariq*
General/President Pervez Musharraf's days are numbered. He is on his way out. Only a miracle can save his presidency. This will be the best news that the Pakistani working class will have heard for a long time. A military dictator humiliated by the parliament is just what is needed in a country like Pakistan.

August 8, 2008: The Labour Party Pakistan welcomes the ruling alliance move to impeachment of [Pakistan's president] General Pervez Musharraf. "We will take the streets if General Musharraf tries to impose any dictatorial action to counter the impeachment," Farooq Tariq spokesperson LPP said in a press statement.
He added that the immediate restoration of the top judges would have been a great help to throw a dictator out of power.
Farooq Tariq agreed with the criticism by the lawyers' movement about failure of the Muslim League to link the restoration of judges with the impeachment. "The ruling alliance had agreed publicly about restoration of judges. The Muslim League has gone back to ministries without the restoration of judges, thus breaking the confidence of those who had illusions in PMLN [Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)]", Farooq Tariq said. This was the topmost priority and PMLN has ignored it at crucial juncture of history.

By Farooq Tariq, Labour Party Pakistan: Over 10,000 peasants today took out a rally at Okara, Punjab on August 4, 2008. They were demanding the withdrawal of false charges of murder against the leaders of Anjaman Mozaraeen Punjab (AMP - Tenant Association of Punjab). This was one of the largest rallies ever organised by the tenants working at Military Farms in Okara.
Peasants from all the different farms in the district came on cycles, motorcycles, tractor trolleys and buses to participate in the rally.