Lal Khan

Lal Khan (1956-2020) was a Pakistani Marxist political theorist, activist, and editor. He was a prominent figure within the Pakistani socialist movement, best known for his role in building and leading the Marxist tendency within the country.

Khan was a medical doctor by profession, graduating from Nishtar Medical College in Multan. However, he dedicated his life primarily to political activism and writing. He was a leading member of The Struggle, a Marxist political group active in Pakistan.

Khan wrote extensively on Pakistani politics, history, and the class struggle, often from a Trotskyist perspective. His analyses focused on issues such as the role of the military, feudalism, religious fundamentalism, and the impact of imperialism on Pakistan. He authored several books and numerous articles that were widely circulated among socialist circles in Pakistan and internationally. Some of his well-known works include Pakistan's Other Story: The Revolution of 1968-69, Crisis and Carnage: Birth Pangs of a New Era, and From Crisis to Catastrophe: Pakistan After the Partition.

Lal Khan was also involved in establishing the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), a student organization aimed at mobilizing young people around socialist ideas. He played a significant role in organizing workers and peasants, advocating for their rights and promoting socialist alternatives to capitalism. His activism often involved public speaking, organizing protests, and engaging in political debates.

Khan's political views were rooted in a belief in the revolutionary potential of the working class and the need to overthrow capitalism. He argued that only through a socialist revolution could the problems of poverty, inequality, and oppression in Pakistan be solved. He was a vocal critic of both the mainstream political parties and the military establishment, advocating for a socialist transformation of Pakistani society. He died in Lahore on February 21, 2020.