Socialist Movement Pakistan

Political party in Pakistan

Socialist Movement Pakistan (SMP) is a Trotskyist political party in Pakistan affiliated to the Committee for a Workers' International.

The SMP was formally founded in Lahore on 17 April 2004, with the merger of the United Socialist Party (a sympathising section of the CWI) and the Marxist Workers' Tendency.[1]

The SMP is highly critical of US policy and involvement in Pakistan, but likewise condemns Islamic fundamentalist groups such as the Taliban, which it considers to be dangerously reactionary.[2]

The party supported in the Occupy movement in Pakistan.[3]

Elections

In 2005, there were 11 SMP members elected to local councils in Pakistan, 8 in Karachi and one each in Dadu, Shikarpur and Dir, winning over 15,000 votes.[4][5]

SMP is planning on using the upcoming elections to agitate for the need for a new workers party, and are holding a conference of trade unionists on the issue in March, 2008.[6]

Trade Unions

SMP members were in the leadership of the campaign to stop the privatisation of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) and the party has been a long time supporter of PTCL workers.[7][8]

SMP also founded the Trade Union Rights Campaign Pakistan (TURCP), which had its founding conference in November 2005, with over 300 trade unions leaders and activists in attendance.[9]

References

  1. ^ Founding meeting of ‘Socialist Movement’ held in Lahore, www.socialistworld.net, 14 May 2004.
  2. ^ Leftist parties unite on one platform, Let Us Build Pakistan, 30 December 2009.
  3. ^ Anti-capitalism rally: Taking cue from Occupy Wall Street movement, The Express Tribune, 27 October 2011.
  4. ^ Local elections expose Musharraf’s sham of democracy, www.socialistworld.net, 29 October 2005.
  5. ^ The emerging class struggle and capitalist crisis in Asia, www.socialistworld.net, 11 January 2006.
  6. ^ New twists and turns in Pakistani politics, www.socialistworld.net, 24 August 2007.
  7. ^ Pakistani workers revolt against PTCL privatization, www.wsws.org, 4 June 2005.
  8. ^ Socialist Movement Pakistan (SMP) solidarity with PTCL workers (in Urdu), www.ptclworkers.com, 30 October 2010.
  9. ^ Breakthrough first National Convention of Trade Union Rights Campaign Pakistan (TURCP), www.socialistworld.net, 28 November 2006.

External links

  • Socialist Movement Pakistan
  • Committee for a Workers' International
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