PAKISTAN DEEP IN A DEBT TRAP
The imperialist financing
agencies like IMF and WB claim as
the saviors of developing countries.
But, in reality, they are tools of
imperialist loot and domination.
They operate in a well articulated
manner to draw the countries into
their debt trap. The countries like
India and Pakistan that are
dependent on and tied to
imperialist economy had gone
through this course. While this
debt trap had become a vicious
circle for the barrowing countries
where they are forced to move from
one crisis to another more serious
crisis, it had opened the gates wide
for the imperialist lenders to loot
the natural, human and economic
resources of the countries and
drive them into subjugation.
On June 22, 2019, Pakistan
Govt. arrested a veteran TU leader
and the General Secretary of
Pakistan TU Defense Campaign –
Qamar- Uz - Zaman Khan – in
Sadiqabad in Central Pakistan.
Reason: He organized a demon-
stration against the Budget which
was under the discussion at the
time in Pakistan’s federal
Parliament. The Pakistan people
widely believe that the rulers in
Pakistan are subservient to
imperialism and are dictated by the
IMF even in the preparation of
Budget. Pakistan Govt. has
responded to the people’s protest
by intensifying the repression.
Khan’s arrest is only a part of it.
His whereabouts were kept
unknown. It triggered of a spon-
taneous social media campaign
and protest in Pakistan. The
activists and workers have
gathered outside the police
stations and demanded the
whereabouts of their leader. Finally,
the police had to accept that
Zaman Khan is in their custody.
Instead of releasing him, they have
filed a case against him on the
charge of creating a law and order
situation.
In the meanwhile, the
Pakistan’s federal Parliament has
adopted the Budget for 2020. The
IMF Executive Board has approved
a $6 billion, three-year loan to
Pakistan. These acts have
confirmed the correctness of
people’s apprehensions and
criticisms. The IMF Executive Board
Deputy Managing Director and
Acting Chair David Lipton said,
Pakistan needs ‘an ambitious and
bold set of reforms’ as its economy
is at a ‘critical juncture.’ He
suggested that Pakistan needs to
pursue ‘a multi-year revenue
mobilization strategy to broaden
the tax base and raise tax revenue.’
Imran Khan Govt. announced plans
to slash civil expenditures, freeze
military spending while promising to
substantially raise revenues to stem
a yawning fiscal deficit and pledging
to collect 5.5 trillion (36 billion
dollars) rupees in taxes. All this only
point out that Pakistan rulers have
toed to the policies dictated by IMF
and their Budget is only an
outcome of it. Coming days are
going to be harsher to the Pakistan
people. They have to further
tighten their belts, bear more
burdens in the form of increased
taxes, prices and other costs of life.
Pakistan will be open for more rabid
imperialist loot and driven into
more shameful subservience.
The voice of protest raised by
Zaman Khan and workers is a
pointer to the coming struggles in
Pakistan. Pakistan people have a
long and difficult battle to wage to
get rid of the yoke of imperialism
and its Pakistani comprador rulers.
RED SALUTE TO CO.BRAHMANANDA MALLIK
On May 4 ,2019, Com. Brahmananda Mallik, a veteran Communist and a member of Odisha State
Committee of CPI (ML) has departed at his home in Gop, Puri district, Odisha owing to failing health. He
was 86 years old.
Com. Brahmananda Mallik is from a poor and socially oppressed peasant family. He joined the
Communist Party in 1951. He worked among the rural poor and organized many a peasant struggles in
his district Puri. Twice he was a Party candidate for State Legislature and lost with a thin margin. He is
known for honesty, straight – forwardness, simple living, discipline and dedication to the ideals and
cause of Communism. In 1975, he differed with the then CPI’s stand on Emergency. He finally broke from
CPI in 1969 rejecting the line of Gorbachev. He held discussions with the CPI (ML), fully agreed with its
revolutionary mass line and joined the party. In the course of time, he became a leading member of the
party in Odisha. He stood tall, as an elderly figure and inspired the comrades of younger generation
through his advice, cooperation and activeness. He made important contributions to the development of
party and peoples movement in various parts of Odisha. He was active till the last moment of his life. His
departure is a serious loss to the party. Red salute to our departed comrade Brahmananda Mallik.
We convey our heartfelt condolences to the members of his family.
Central Committee
June 7, 2019
CPI (ML)
th
16
Class Struggle