Will Pakistan go the Egypt way?

Taimur Rahman is a singer, activist, and academic from Pakistan. Based in Lahore, Rahman is also the general secretary of the Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party. The musician spoke to DNA about revolution versus reform, the Left in the Islamic world, and why he thinks Pakistan may not go the way of Egypt.

How do your roles as an activist and academic influence you as a musician?
When I became an activist, I decided – my mind had been turned – that playing the guitar was a very elitist act. I said that’s it! I denounce the guitar. Now I will only work with farmers. But I soon found it is one thing to expound on the dry theory of surplus value, democracy and socialism; it’s another thing altogether to touch the heart — something that can never be done without aesthetic expression. So I picked up the guitar again.

How has Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry and activism influenced you?
Faiz saab is obviously a huge name. I knew Faiz saab was a Left-winger and an anti-establishmentarian. But I didn’t comprehend his philosophical depth. Studying Marxism in college was a major influence on my Leftist politics. Marxism helped me better understand Faiz saab. I rediscovered him, not just as a poet, but as a revolutionary.  A better understanding of Faiz saab led me to a better understanding of Pakistan and eventually a better understanding of myself.

What do you think are the factors that have led to the lack of a credible Left in Pakistan?
There used to be a very effective Left in Pakistan during the sixties and seventies. When I was young I experienced this very vibrant Left. During the Zia-ul-Haq period however, there were changes made to three key institutions – education, the media, and trade unions and worker’s movements. All three had progressives weeded out of them and replaced by reactionary elements which meant that there was no longer any continuity in the growth of the Left movement.

In your understanding, does the Taliban qualify as a working class movement?
The Tehrik-i-Taliban inflicts damage upon Pakistan through their bomb attacks, creating the impression that they have a lot of support. They do not enjoy that amount of support except in some tribal areas. The Taliban are an extremely reactionary organisation. They don’t consider the interests of the oppressed as they are the greatest oppressors themselves. The Taliban’s aversion to development is illustrated by their attempt to reverse the land reforms of 1972 when they declared land ceilings un-Islamic. One factor in the Taliban’s favour however, is that decades of religious fundamentalism in Pakistan has created pockets which support this reactionary agenda; but for the Taliban to win mass electoral support is impossible.

Do you believe that religion can be harnessed effectively for a class-based revolution?
Perhaps. There exists the possibility of a liberation theology movement, a school of thought led by Javed Ahmad. But at the moment, the religious discourse is dominated by very reactionary movements. An Islamic liberation theology movement is only possible only when the progressive movement becomes strong, as happened in Latin America. If the peasant and worker movements — whether they be Marxist or not — remain weak, liberation theology doesn’t stand a chance.

Do you believe that the uprising in Egypt can be mirrored in Pakistan?
I know a lot of people hope that it will be. It could be, but the fact remains that Egypt and Pakistan have massive differences. For one, the regime in Pakistan is unstable, whereas Mubarak has been in power for thirty years. Another is that Pakistan is a much diverse society than Egypt. The phenomenon of terrorism too is huge in Pakistan, this is not so in Egypt. Right now it’s not clear what the movement in Egypt means exactly. It is opposed to dictatorial regimes, but what shape this uprising takes remains to be seen.

What is the place for reforms in the Marxist movement?
I’m a revolutionary, not a reformist. I would like to see a society without any exploitation and that in my opinion requires a revolution. However, I’m not against the idea of reforms. They will provide a greater space for revolution. My idea of a revolution is not to kill off anyone who disagrees with me. Some people, of course, become ultra revolutionaries wherein they denounce the concept of reforms. But the big change will be a culmination of small battles won.

Do you believe that the tenets of Islam have played a factor in the limited role of Communism in the Middle East?
I don’t think Islam is a deterrent to Communism. There are a thousand examples of Communism taking root in Islamic countries across the world. The formation of the UAR, changes in Syria, in Iraq, Yemen, Iran, and in Sudan – which is today the vanguard of religious fundamentalism. The truth is that we lost the struggle waged against religious fundamentalism for various complex reasons. When the Bolshevik Revolution happened, the first place where the Muslim masses discovered it was the Masjid. The mosques were inspired by the movement and they even declared that this movement showed the way forward for Muslims. Faiz saab has said that he discovered Socialism at the pulpit. Imperialism is the main culprit when it comes to the weakening of the progressive movement. Hillary Clinton herself has said that the forces the US fights in Pakistan and Afghanistan were created by the US itself. This is a known fact.