Karachi Steel: War Against Privatisation

The regime in Pakistan is indeed a callous one. Not only did it show little concern for the hundreds of thousands hit by the quake in Kashmir and Northern Pakistan, now it wants to exploit this moment of bewilderment among the masses to speed up the process of privatization, starting with the Karachi Steel Mills. The PTUDC is mobilizing, starting with a conference of union and workers delegates this Saturday in Karachi. In the wake of the terrible earthquake huge grief and shock prevails across the country. The workers in Pakistan have been struck by this tragedy. Hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris and Pushtoon Khawaa inhabitants, mostly from the oppressed classes are stranded in the harsh Himalayan winter without shelter. The masses in the rest of Pakistan are pained and aggrieved by the misery of their brothers and sisters.

But the Pakistani regime is trying to use this situation of mass bewilderment to carry through rapid privatisation and other dictates of the imperialist institutions. Such is the callous nature and sinister role of the Pakistani regime that they want to carry out further attacks against the already impoverished toiling classes in this hour of pain and trauma.

The regime is now trying to privatize the Karachi Steel Mills and several other state owned industries and institutions. They are trying to rush it through, with the thought that they will not face resistance in this situation. The PTUDC, which has been heavily involved in the rescue and relief operations in Kashmir and other quake hit areas had to immediately move to mobilize the resistance against this callous act of privatisation by the regime.

The PTUDC started the campaign with two leaflets circulated in the Steel Mills. These leaflets got an immediate response from the workers. Due to this movement a Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising mainly PPP related and left-wing unions was formed through the efforts of the PTUDC comrades in the Steels Mills. After the formation of the JAC the administration was shaken and in this desperate action it sacked the coordinator of the JAC.

On the other hand they tried to lure the workers by announcing lucrative packages. After all this an open letter to the Steel Mills workers from Comrade Manzoor Ahmed, Member of the National Assembly and president of PTUDC, was circulated. This heartened the workers and brought on an angry reaction from the administration. A senior army officer phoned comrade Manzoor and angrily protested at the “language” used against the General who was chairman of the Pakistan Steel Mills Karachi. Comrade Manzoor retorted and stood firm on the position taken in the open letter.

The PTUDC executive decided to hold a “War Against Privatisation” conference on in Karachi on December 3rd. The main aim of this conference is to step up the struggle against privatisation and mobilize the unions and workers from the other industries in support of the workers at the Steel Mills and also at other industries that are threatened with privatisation. A poster has been produced and thousands are being fly-posted not just in Karachi but in all the main cities of Pakistan including the quake hit areas of Kashmir.

Thirty-one trade unions and federations have signed up to participate and support this War Against Privatisation conference. The chief guest will be Mr Raza Rabbani of the PPP, the leader of the opposition in Pakistan’s upper house, the Senate. The conference will be presided by comrade Manzoor Ahmed. A large participation of trade unionists and workers is expected. The success of this conference will boost the morale and give courage to the workers of the Steel Mills and other industries in their struggle against privatisation. The regime’s tactics of intrigue could well fail as the resistance they may face could defeat their evil designs and treacherous methods.