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Anti-capitalism rally in Pakistan

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Anti-capitalism movement gets support from Senators

ISLAMABAD - The voices of anti-capitalism protests being held throughout the world under the banner of “Occupy Wall Street” on Thursday echoed in the Senate when PPP senior stalwart Mian Raza Rabbani, raising the issue on the floor of the house, opposed the privatisation of state-owned entities like PIA and Pakistan Railways.

Former Federal Minister and legal expert Raza Rabbani on a point of order said that with the start of protests against capitalism that had spread over 80 countries and more than 100 cities around the world, there was gradual revival of left movement in the world. “The anti-capitalism movement has started, I support it as this is against the cartels as well as financial institutions that are exploiting the masses in the name of open market,” he added.

He in the same breath opposing the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan Steel Mills and Pakistan Railways in one way or the other said that privatization policies throughout the world had failed. “This concept is being set aside in the world and we have to reject it,” he informed the house. He said that the nation was already facing the bitter results of privatization of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC).

Hasil Khan Bazenjo of National Party (NP) endorsing his views said that he supported all who were struggling to end capitalism and his statement was later appreciated by Law Minister Moula Bukhsh Chandio saying that he stood by his ideology despite facing many difficulties.

Dr Asim Hussain, Minister for Petroleum, tabled two money bills of 2011, the Petroleum Products (Petroleum Levy) (Amendment) Bill, 2011 and the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess Bill, 2011 in the Upper House of the Parliament for further recommendations to the National Assembly. Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek has sought emendations from the lawmakers on the two bills till October 31 amid reservations of Ishaq Dar of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The house will pass its recommendation on November 3 for consideration to the Lower House of the Parliament. Ishaq Dar objected that the bills did not stand under the money bill and both were being tabled collectively though these should be moved separately as both were in the form of independent amendments.

Leader of the House Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari on behalf of the Law Minister laid the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 2011 (Ordinance no. V of 2011) as required by clause (2) of Article 89 of the Constitution.

The house also adopted a motion on the Carriage by Air Bill, 2011 moved by Minister for Defence Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar to give effect in Pakistan to the Conventions concerning international carriage by air known as the Montreal Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, 1999 and consolidate the law and applicable international conventions in relations to international carriage by air.

Wasim Sajjad of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) complimenting the Defence Minister for moving the bill proposed that compensation for domestic passengers in case of air crash incidents, as proposed in the bill, should be enhanced from Rs 0.5 million to Rs5 million. He further proposed that air lines should be made strictly liable to passenger in case of a flight delay as such delays have disastrous effects on business and other activities.

FATA members, Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl JUI (F) staged a token walkout from the house after FATA Senators said that neither they were being given their due share form development funds nor they were taken into confidence by the government on national affairs relating to the region.

Senator Abdul Raziq Khan said that resources of the country were being divided in an unfair way as FATA had only got one billion rupees from its legitimate shares of Rs 6 billion from the Annual Development Plan (ADP) adding that though the commitment was made up to Rs15 billions. “We were kept in the dark when recently Hillary Clinton visited Pakistan to discuss the issues of FATA,” he said adding that FATA parliamentarians were not being taken into confidence on the issue of the region.

A lawmaker from Balochistan, Hasil Khan Bazejno on the point of order said that only one private channel aired in regional language of Balochi in his province was facing closure due to financial constraints before the legislators belonging to Balochistan both from treasury and opposition benches staged a token walkout from the house on the issue. They demanded of the government for giving financial assistance to the channel and to allocate proper quota of advertisements for its smooth running.

Federal Informational Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan later clarified that the government could not give a bail-out package to any private channel as there were as many as 80 channel facing financial crisis due to crunch in the country’s economy.” The government could only facilitate these in terms of release of advertisements and this is being done without any discrimination,” she further said.

Chairman Senate on a point of order raised by Wasim Sajjad gave ruling that Board of Governors of State Bank of Pakistan should pass a resolution and issue directions to all banks that all demonetized notes of Rs 500 should be accepted and exchanged till further orders. “The resolution should be placed before the house till November 3,” he directed.

The chair also passed a ruling that the government would ensure the compensation money up to Rs 0.2 million and job to the spouse of deceased Raja Rind belonging to Sindh, who made self-immolation in the front of the Parliament House, some days ago, until November 3.

Ishaq Dar on a point of order said that according to some media reports, the government had awarded some 35 projects to some Chinese firms only by signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) while violating PPRA rules. “Finance Minister should give assurance to the house if no malpractice was committee in the ward of these projects,” he demanded.

The house also offered fateha for the earthquake victims of Turkey on the request of Senator Tariq Azeem raised on a point of order before the house was adjourned to meet again on Friday at 10am.


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Pakistan urged to check obsession with capitalism

LAHORE: Pakistan needs to check its obsession with corporate culture and its capitalist ways, otherwise, it could also face the same backlash capitalism has recently experienced the world over.

If the rising rate of unemployment is not checked soon, the country’s roads, too, will be flooded with frustrated angry youth fighting for their existence and survival. The Wall Street Occupation movement can spread to Asia as well, if the Asian governments fail to provide economic and food security to the masses.

These views were shared by guests at the Jang Economic Forum held on the topic “Where Is Pakistan Placed in the International Rebellion Against Capitalism” here. The guests at the forum were Middle East Institute Washington Scholar Prof. Dr Farooq Hasnaat, General Secretary Pakistan Workers Confederation Khursheed Ahmed, former president LCCI Pervez Hanif and Member Employers Federation of Pakistan Iftikhar Mahmood Randhawa, Pakistan Trade Union defense Leader Adam Paul.

The forum was hosted by Sikandar Lodhi. Initiating the discussion, Prof. Dr Farooq Hasnaat said that the effects of the mass movement against capitalism all across the world was an alarm bell for all those who were pursuing similar policies in Asia. He said that capitalism was observed almost as a religion by the West. He was of the view that the current crisis was of lesser intensity than the great depression of 1930s. He said if the US stopped its expansionist and jingoistic activities, its financial crisis could be resolved.

Khursheed Ahmed said that the universal sentiment could easily spread to Pakistan as there was no concept of social security in the country. He said that the increasing unemployment was one of major contributing factors in this regard.

He said that another major motivating force behind the mass rebellion could be the lack of energy in the industrial sector, which had caused a large scale shutdown of major industries. This, he added, had set off a chain reaction of unemployment, which might soon explode.

Pervez Hanif said that the US had a different operating procedure as they believed in giving bailout packages to the corporate sector and banks, instead of giving subsidy and relief to the people directly. He said that the current wave would not reach Pakistan, however, he maintained, if the supply of electricity and gas to the industries was not restored completely, it just might haunt us in near future.

Iftikhar Mahmood Randhawa said the people of the west believed that their corporate heads were responsible for their financial miseries, terming it ëbred angerí which had translated into rebellion. He said that the movement was also gave us an opportunity to laud the level of freedom of expression given by their governments.

Adam Paul said that the current movement was part of a wave of social reaction towards authoritarian policies adopted by countries. The authoritarian economy had created mass disparity between classes which had given rise to the need of such movements. He said that, although Pakistan might not get any share of this movement, the sorry state of financial and key institutions in the country was ringing bells already, and if something regarding empowerment of the industry through energy was not done, we might face a similar situation.



Pakistan urged to check obsession with capitalism
 
This party was led by those people who represent another failed system socialism
 
Do we have to do everything which is happening in the world????

I remember before this one there was a large campaign on FB to bring revolution just because Egypt and Tunis had one.....
 
Thats means muslim country is also influence by WEST

get a life

dont know why indians bring islam and muslims everywhere (really frustrated souls), capitalism have harmed every ppl nothing to do with muslim christain or hindu & pakistan is free sociaty one is free to choose any thing...
 
hmm, another outside funded protest launched in Pakistan...:tsk:
 
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