ISLAMABAD: Inspired by worldwide protest demonstrations against capitalism, a group of political workers and representatives of trade and student unions has announced that they will launch an ‘occupy Islamabad movement’ and hold a rally on Wednesday.
Coordinator of the recently-formed Anti-Capitalist Committee and secretary general of the Labour Party Pakistan Nisar Shah told Dawn on Monday that the march would start from Aabpara Chowk and culminate at the World Bank building, situated near the Constitution Avenue.
He said activists of Labour Party Pakistan, Workers Party Pakistan, Awami Party Pakistan and Socialist Movement Pakistan, representatives of the Pakistan Postal Union, PTCL Union, National Trade Union Federation, National Students Federation, Progressive Youth Organisation and a large number of civil society members, intellectuals and citizens would participate in the march in line with the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ campaign in the US and other such protests going on in more than 900 cities around the world.
Organisers of the event said the main objective of the rally was to draw attention of the government to capitalism with reference to the devastating impact of privatisation and restructuring of state enterprises such as the PTCL and Pakistan Railways.
The rally will also highlight the impact of World Bank-funded mega water projects such as the LBOD (Left Bank Outfall Drain) and Taunsa Barrage, deterioration of public services like health and education and an unusual increase in prices of basic amenities.
Nisar Shah said the next phase of the movement would be announced after the Wednesday’s rally.
He said they were in touch with the organisers of anti-capitalism rallies in the United States and would arrange more such events in consultation and coordination with them. He said the movement’s representatives would also attend the Asian Social Forum to be held in Bangladesh next month against globalisation.
Thousands of demonstrators, including nurses, transit workers and trade union members converged on Wall Street, the financial district of New York, on Oct 5 in protest against economic inequality and powers of financial institutions.
Small protests were also held in cities and college campuses across the US. The anti-capitalism protests acquired the shape of a global movement when it spread to some 80 countries around the world.
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