[Lahore, 13 October] The Labour Parsy of Pakistan (LPP) strongly opposes the army coup. and demands that the army go back to the barracks. The LPP further demanes the creaton o worker interim government to hold fresh elections for a new legislative assembly. The army coup mirrors the deeprooted economic crisis that has and infighting of the Pakistan ruling class. Nawaz Shanf, ex Prime Minis ter, wanted to strengthen his dictatorial power by forcing the retirement of General Pervaiz Mussaraf. But this coup proves that the army is the real ruler of the country. Nawaz's attempt at grabbing power was deplorable. But the army coup is absolutely unacceptable. The new government - even if it is a chilian set up - will be a puppet in the army's hands. Whether we have a miltary or civilian regime now depends on the generals' negotiations with the IMF and the World Bank. The coup was against the plans of US imperialism, bue the US will find a compromise with Pakistan's military strongmen.
The new government will use accountability as a pretext, but this will be an illusion. The new govern. ment will not be able to recover loans from defaulters. In fact, the masses will be taxed even more heavily, in a futile bid to overcome The lack of protest against the coup proves the utter unpopularity of the Nawaz regime, because of its economic policies. The new regime nomic policies. So it too will be will nave to carty out the same eco increasingly unpopular. The army coup will sharpen the natonal question in the three smaller provinces, particularly if the arity resorts to dictatoria methods For the moment, the masses might feet some reler, because the artuy coup has replaced the Nawaz regime. But they will soon be disillusioned. The trade union movement, working class peasants, free press and political parties will suffer the loss of democratic rights. The class struggle will be even more dificult. The working class will have to fight for democratic rights. in addition to their genuine rights and demands. The Labour Party of Pakistan (LPP) demands that the army return to barracks immediately, An interim workers peasant's government should be set up to hold the ruling class accountable. This workers peasane interim government shoulo hord eleccions Tor a new legislative assembly. DemoImmediately. No ban should be imposed on meetings, demonstrations, and processions. The LPP vows to mobilze the working class and peasants to press for these demanos. it wh Dunch a campaign for the restoration of accept any attempt by the military to impose martial law