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You are here: Frontpage > Issues > 2475-76 >
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Democracy under dictatorship
Farooq Tariq
During the last six yearsunder General Pervaiz Musharaf, it has been avery rare occasion that, when we wanted to or ganise some public event, there has been no intimidation, threats or arrests
It happens all the time. A police inspector, a deputy or a senior superintendent will call our office or my mobile. Sometimes, it is one of the intelligence services that call. The message is almost always the same: "Cancel your event, postpone it, there is a section 144 imposed."
They try to say this first in a friendly manner, and then in a threatening manner. It dependson how you react. W e are always friendly on the telephone, but remain firm that we will hold the demonstration or event.
But this is the beginning - later comes the force itself. Sometimes, they will come to the Labour Party' s office to persuade us to cancel. We argue that it is our democratic right to organise; they smile and usually
say: "What democracy? We are bound to act on our orders. Demonstrations are not allowed.
Get permission from the admin istration and you will be allowedto hold the demonstration."
No "permission" required
The administration in Lahore is our local government. W e nor -mally send a letter informing them that an event is takingplace. However, we never ask permission. In most cases, we donot get a reply. When we do get a reply we are told that the event is"not allowed".
Sometimes we are arrested. At other times, the police back down. In some cases, we do notfollow the planned route of a demonstration, but we neverpostpone any event because of the threats.
Land and rights
While I am writing this, another event is planned to take place.Anjaman Mozareen Punjab (the peasant organisation fighting forland rights at the military farms in the Okara district) is or ganis-ing a public meeting at Proban abad Depalpur. This is a publicmeeting to demand the peasants' rights to land that has beenoccupied by the military for over 100 years.Asma Jehanghir, chair of the Human Rights Commission ofPakistan, promised to be the chief guest at the public meet -ing. However, she had to appear in the Supreme Court on the dayof the event, so she is not com ing. Instead, I was asked to bethe main guest. I was going to be there anyway.
Fighting back
Since yesterday, the Depalpur police have been calling ouroffice and mobiles, asking us not to come. I have not answeredtheir calls since the morning, so many calls I have not respondedto. They were able to get in touch with Afzal Soraya, secre -tary of the Labour Party Pakistan in Punjab, who has been toldthat "the LPP must not come".
I am going tomorrow to thepublic meeting, come what may . It is our democratic right tospeak and attend meetings. But democracy under military dicta -torship is like that. W e will not accept this "democracy". W e arefighting back, not just in words, but in practice.
Farooq Tariq is General Secretary of the Labour Party Pakistan.
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