News desk On the occasion of the International Day of Workers (May Day), the Awami Workers Party (AWP) has called on workers, peasants, students as well as left-progressive forces across Pakistan to come together to build a genuine, popular movement of working people to challenge class, state, imperialist and patriarchal power in all its forms. AWP President Yusuf Masti Khan …

By Aasim Sajjad Akhtar Labour Day, an occasion steeped in great significance, synonymous with working class politics as well as the historic struggles of colonised peoples to free themselves from imperial servitude, will pass by this year with few even noticing. Food for thought in a country where exploitation and oppression of the wretched of the earth is a daily …

The book, titled The Struggle for Hegemony in Pakistan Fear, Desire and Revolutionary Horizons is an interpretation of the contemporary global economic and political scenario and opportunities for revolutionary politics as an alternative.

By Paris Marx Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has bought Twitter. Musk says he’s trying to safeguard democracy and promote free speech — but what does a mega-billionaire with a history of silencing critics and retaliating against workers know about democracy? On April 4, Elon Musk disclosed his 9.2 per cent stake in Twitter. That news set off a …

By Paris Marx Elon Musk’s bid to buy Twitter in the name of free speech is the latest example of his hubris. It’s not just that Elon Musk shouldn’t own Twitter — billionaires shouldn’t even exist. On Thursday, ten days after revealing his 9.2 percent stake in Twitter to the public, Elon Musk delivered an ultimatum: either the board accept …

Arif Naqvi is under house arrest in the UK. He has been close to Imran Khan since the ’90s and even admitted to funding PTI. Question is, how much? Can the trial of Arif Naqvi, the disgraced founder of the defunct Abraaj Group, reveal financial information that could prove damaging for Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan? The Pakistani businessman …

Tooba Syed dismantles the myths surrounding the former cricketer’s supposedly anti-imperialist tenure in Pakistan by Tooba Syed Despite his best attempts and amid unproven allegations of foreign interference, Imran Khan was removed from power by a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly of Pakistan on 11 April. Earlier that same week, Khan had attempted to block the vote …

The famed leftwing political activist says that using the threatening letter as evidence of a coup is “meaningless”! I have for long admired and followed Prof. Chomsky’s work. Among the people he has never met, I am probably one of the few with whom it was Prof. Chomsky who initiated an email correspondence! Well, technically. Here’s what happened: Anyone remember …

This year, the Saint Louis University Library Associates will honor writer Arundhati Roy with the annual St. Louis Literary Award. Presented at the Sheldon Concert Hall on April 28 at 7 p.m., the award is granted to the “most important writers of our time” and “celebrates the contributions of literature in enriching our lives.” The award-winning author will also speak …

This lecture was delivered by Arundhati Roy, author of the recently published Azadi: Fascism, Fiction, and Freedom in the Time of the Virus (Haymarket Books), at the University of Texas at Austin on April 19. Good afternoon, and thank you for inviting me to deliver the Sissy Farenthold lecture. Before I begin, I would like to say a few words …

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has hailed the Federal Government’s decision to abandon the establishment of Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA), which was planned by the ousted PTI government. The PFUJ also lauded the Federal Information Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb’s announcement to start consultations with stakeholders to review the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 in order to ensure …

Women’s Action Forum (WAF) has strongly condemned the horrific and inhumane treatment meted out to Baloch drivers in Chagai by the Frontier Corps.  A statement issued by WAF said it was outraged by horrific videos coming out of Chagai.  “WAF expresses serious concern over indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by paramilitary forces against peaceful and unarmed protestors in Chagai, who were …

Rizwan Qalandar has attempted to translate a song of Rahimullah Rahim, perhaps one of the most difficult contemporary poets, from Hunza. He is a free soul, a socialist philosopher who started off as a  young singer in early 1990s but more recently has turned towards deeply philosophical poetry with messages for the society. He is perhaps the only poet in …

On its seventh anniversary, the China Cultural Center in Pakistan has pledged to further enhance people-to-people ties through cultural activities. The center has been at the forefront of cultural exchange between Pakistan and China. Seven years ago, President Xi Jinping on a state visit to Pakistan flanked by the then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had jointly inaugurated the cultural …

By Aasim Sajjad Akhtar Pakistan’s democracy is apparently back on track. A new federal cabinet has been sworn in including individuals like Shahzain Bugti.  We have been reassured by the new prime minister that ‘development’ projects like Bhasha Dam and multiple power plants – most of which are funded through CPEC – are going to be fast-tracked for our collective …