CMKP statement on emergency rule in Pakistan

Karachi: The following statement has been issued by
the Central Secretariat of the Communist Mazdoor
Kissan Party (Communist Workers-Peasants Party)
Pakistan on the state of emergency declared throughout
Pakistan to save a military dictator: -

" The Communist Mazdoor-Kissan Party (CMKP) Pakistan
first of all condemns the state of emergency imposed
in Pakistan, violating the cardinal democratic
principles, the underlined nefarious intention of
which is just to save military dictator General Pervez
Musharraf who had usurped power unconstitutionally by
overthrowing the elected Nawaz Sharif government in
October 1998. Gen. Musharraf has been ruling the
country in violation of the constitution and against
democratic practice. He takes himself as the bastion
of power and is not prepared to act in accordance with
the real spirit of the country's constitution.

"The present state of emergency proclaimed by him is
similar to another military takeovers as he failed to
address economic and political issues confronting the
country. This emergency is actually against his own
policy and against himself. Afraid of his political
eclipse in view of the legal battle and rising
political struggle against him, he has found to escape
the wrath of people by declaring state of emergency,
flaunting fundamental rights and independence of
judiciary as ensured by the 1973 constitution. Curbs
on freedom of speech, assembly and smooth function of
media, including the forced closer of domestic private
TV channels and foreign news TV channels are
indication to enslave the society with the ploy of
emergency for the rule of a dictator in military
uniform. Though not indispensable, Gen. Musharraf
thinks himself the only one to deliver goods. His
eight years of rule in military uniform belies his
self deception, proving once again that military is
not capable to handle the political issues rather it
helps worsen the situation what has been happening
after every military rule in Pakistan.

"Gen. Musharraf's controlled democracy what he had
brought into play after the 2002 manipulated general
elections to put himself into addle with military
backing has proved itself dysfunctional and his
emergency is testimony to it. All along he has been
ruling the country with the active support of US
imperialism. The present imposition of emergency has
tacit hidden wire pulling of the United States, which
speaks of democracy outwardly without substance.
Washington's anger and threat against emergency are
just to mislead the world public opinion.
Pro-imperialist military establishment has no will and
courage to defy imperialist dictation and cannot
withstand imperialist anger and threat. So, US or
other imperialist powers' outburst what we see against
state of emergency is just an eyewash. Pakistan's army
has been in league with imperialism since the mid
1950s, and it continues to serve imperialist cause
whether under the canopy of 'containing communism',
'Islamic Jihad' against Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
or US 'War on Islamic militancy and terror'.

"The pertinent question is why military interference
is regarded necessary by the rulers is civilian
matters and democratic issue. The situation conforms
to the reality that imperialist-dominated
feudal-tribal-military alliance has time and again
made its exercise to rule the country with iron hand
futile. The latest undemocratic measure further
testifies the contention. While taking up political
issue of Pakistan, this important element needs to be
brought into arena to remove the roadblock to
democracy. Democracy is, no doubt, a source of
political oxygen for a society, but democracy also
needs the total independence and real national
sovereignty. One of the reasons for the setback for
the democratic dispensation is that Pakistan is
totally subservient to imperialist manipulation and
domination. This is an obstacle to the attainment of
democratic goal. Without struggle against
feudal-tribal-military alliance backed by imperialism,
democracy would remain a far cry. Thus, it is
imperative for anti-imperialist and anti-feudal
democratic forces to ponder over the important issue.
The CMKP, however, is always ready to play its
political role through unified struggle of the
democratic forces against undemocratic machination
under different garbs. Gen. Musharraf's latest move to
prolong his rule is likely to be the last straw that
is to break the proverbial camel back."