Discussion Article PROBLEMS OF

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We publish here the iconcluding part of a discussion history and problems of the Marxist movement in Pakistan.

We do so not because we are in complete agreement with the views expressed - indeed there are several points with which we have considerable disagreement - but because we feel that discussion on such questions is of importance to those within the Trotskyist movement who take seriously the need to build the Fourth International with sections active colonia problem of programme and perspective for revolution in and ex-colonial countries must be considered and tackled Trotskyists if we are not to descend to mere abstractions.

We will therefore publish this discussion article and follow it with points of reply - while inviting also our readers to contribute to discussion. Letters or articles submitted to Socialist Press should be kep W.B. Yeats, Blunt and Ezra Pound in 1914.

in every country.

brief as possible to avoid any necessity for cuts.

Fauzia Field Marshal Mohammed Ayub Khan came to power in 1958, and managed to hold it for ten years. In his view, the country's (as well as his own) salvation lay in America, and the USA was obliged to replace Great Britain in her colonies.

The USA invested a colossal amount of money in Pakistan, gave heavy loans, and in return prostituted the country using such methods, so new and subtle that even Queen Victoria couldn't have imagined them.

Thanks to our white Gods, Ayub championed the cause of industrialising agriculture and creating vast industry in the cities. But it was precisely Ayub's nakedly open assistance to America which ultimately led to his down fall.

He banned the Communist Party and its only open front the NSF (National Students' Federation), opposition leaders were banned under the EBDO legislation, the mass media was seized under the control of the NPT (National Press Trust), and the Detence of Pakistan Rules (DPR) were amended.

Finally a strange concept of "democracy" was introduced which proved unable to cope with a developing country, rapidly changing relations of production and a growing inequality between various classes and different regions of Pakistan.

Some external events added to the repression by the suffocating bureaucratic regime. After the SinoIndian conflict (1962), Western countries rushed a gigantic amount of arms to India, which decisively tilted the balance of power in the sub-continent and created insecurity amongst the people of Pakistan, Progressive elements amongst *the students, intellectuals and trade union leaders now openly criticised America and Ayub. In 1965, during the war with India, SEATO and CENTO proved to be totally ineffective and enhanced anti-Western feelings.

China's active support made her the most popular country with the people, and it was after that that the broad masses of people began to gain awareness of a miracle which can resolve their problems also, the miracle named socialism!

They respected the Chinese people for their achievements and almost idealised them and Chairman Mao. No doubt, political relations with China contributed a great deal towards the Marxist movement in Pakistan.

CHINESE Ayub was compelled make certain changes in his licies, Bhutto sided with thi hinese rico the by the tas and Communist elements who were previously shattered by the CP's pro-Russian intellectuals, now ideologically accepted the Chinese people and Mao as a model for their struggle.

As Russia was considered to be on India's side the Tashkent Declaration came as a blow to Ayub's regime. There was a growing unrest amongst the people. Bhutto was intelligent enough to sense the situation.

He resigned from the cabinet in the summer of 1966. On Ist January 1967 the period of the ban on a number of political leaders under EBDO came to an end.

Most of them joined the opposition and the Pakistan Democratic Movement was formed as a united forum to struggle against Ayub.

Bhutto however did not join this but instead launched the Pakistan Peoples Party on ist December 1967. At its founding meeting, the PPP's Document No 3 pointed out:

"A growing and a powerful body of the people, spearheaded by the younger generation, firmly believes that the old ways and the traditional methods are not sufficient to surmount the colossal problems of Pakistan... This epoch, which is both so exciting and full of challenge, requires a new party with a new face and vitality to build the new society sought with passionate zeal by the entire population of Pakistan.

Outlining his party programme Bhutto said that it stood for "the transformation of Pakistan into a socialist society because only a socialist programme could guarantee equal opportunities for all citizens.

In the summer of 1968 Bhutto launched an anti-Ayub movement. The PPP was the first political party which organised its cells among the poor masses, mobilised them and relied on their power for a decisive political change.

In November 1968 student riots started throughout the country, and in 1969 the PPP gave a general call to the Trade Unions for a strike and the seizure of the factories.

The first seizure was in the Multan Fertilizer factory, and the second was in Dawood Textile Mills, Karachi - others soon ioined