May 1: Burning mud-bowl demonstration in Kasur Pakistan Share Tweet The burning mud-bowl procession of May 1 was the most glorious in the history of Kasur. It was organised by the PTUDC in collaboration with the People's Party Kasur. Workers from some twenty unions took an active part in the procession. The burning mud-bowl procession of May 1 was the most glorious in the history of Kasur. It was organised by the PTUDC in collaboration with the People's Party Kasur. Workers from some twenty unions took an active part in the procession. The unions that took part are as follows: (i) Kasur Power Looms (ii) Teachers' Union Kasur (iii) Organization of Peasantry (iv) District Bar Association (v) United Labour Front (vi) WAPDA LESCO District Kasur (vii) National Bank Employees Union (viii) Habib Bank's Staff Union (ix) Paramedical Staff Union (x) New Bhatta Labourers (xi) United Welfare Union (xii) Employees' Union (xiii) Shaheen Rikshaw Union (xiv) Peace Welfare Society (xv) Staff Cleanliness Action Committee (xvi) Chaliya Union Kasur (xvii) Tanneries Workers Union Kasur (xviii) Traders' Federation (xix) Organization of Ashtaam Sellers (xx) BNT A large number of youth, students, peasants and unemployed youth also took part in the procession. All were carrying banners carrying various slogans. (i) Everyone demands bread, cloth and a home (ii) As long as there is the black shroud of night, there will be war (iii) As long as there are starvation and nakedness, there will be war (iv) There is redness, redness - Asia is red with the blood of the workers! War will continue until privatization, liberalization, and re-structuring are finished. This passionate procession started its march from Shahbaz Khan Road, which is a traditional location for protests and processions. At 8 pm the procession headed towards Railway Station Kasur, where the procession would end. It was a spectacular sight to see the burning mud-bowls raised up high during the march. Their reddish flickering reminded the marchers of the blood of the Chicago martyrs. There were many red flags present as well, which went along well with the flames. The people expressed their hatred of the current government and raised slogans against President Musharraf and even against the rumours of a deal between him and Benazir Bhutto. This shows that the workers and supporters of the PPP are prepared to revolt against the wrong decisions of the leadership. This was one of the first times in the history of Pakistan that the workers of the party have gone against the wrong decisions of the leadership. Loud slogans were raised for Comrade Manzoor Ahmed, Member of the National Assembly. When the procession reached its final destination, fiery speeches were delivered by the leaders of the different trade unions. They spoke of the revolutionary role of Comrade Manzoor Ahmad, whether in terms of the fight at Pakistan Steel, the bills and amendments in the Assembly against unemployment, or his speeches in the Assembly against privatization. These leaders saluted Comrade Manzoor Ahmad's struggles and work for the working class, youth and students both in and outside the Assembly. They assured those present that they were all with Comrade Manzoor and that they would take this fight to the streets and fields and continue until final victory. At the end, Comrade Manzoor thanked all the participants for joining the procession. He expressed his unflinching commitment to the interests of the working class. He spoke about his experiences as an MNA and assured everyone that he would continue fighting for the ideas of socialism. He launched into an attack on the president for suspending the Chief Justice of Pakistan. He explained that despite the blemished role of the judiciary in the history of Pakistan, he supported the protest of the suspended Chief Justice because he has stood against the dictator. With these words, he summed up his speech. After that the masses dispersed but were fired up with a new zeal and fervor to fight against capitalism until the final victory of socialism.
