PAKISTAN: More left activists arrested

LAHORE — The leader of Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) and Labour Unity
Rawalpindi, Bashir Botter, who was arrested on May 26, has been released
on bail. However, the charges against him — organising “illegal” strikes
and demonstrations, causing a riot, and other “crimes” — have not been
withdrawn.

His release was brought about by pressure exerted on Pakistan's military
regime by trade unions and political parties, within Pakistan and internationally.

Botter and nine others have been framed by the regime as punishment
for organising railway workers and their families to stop the demolition
of their homes, the cancellation of piece work and the withdrawal of some
working conditions.

After Botter's release, on June 12, Rawalpindi police arrested six more
union activists. They are Aurangzeb Khan, Sufi Ghulam Yasin, Afzal Amin
Anjum, Sayyed Qaiser Abbas, Pervaiz Iqbal and Sufi Abdul Sattar, leaders
of the workers' organisation Railway Labour Unity in Rawalpindi. Bashir
is also the LPP chairperson in Punjab. The six have been charged under
four separate legal codes with intimidation, rioting and creating a public
disturbance, among other “crimes” and have been refused bail.

Labour Unity, the LPP, Awam Dost Mahaz and other progressive organisations
held a demonstration in Rawalpindi on June 12 to demand the immediate release
of all of the activists and the withdrawal of the charges against them.
Most trade unions and political parties in Pakistan have joined this call.

Police have also arrested Jahangir Akhtar, the convenor of Awam Dost
Mahaz in Rawalpindi, for protesting against the army's murder of a traders'
leader. Jahangir Akhtar has been charged with sedition, which carries the
death penalty.

Please help by sending an email demanding the immediate withdrawal of
all charges against Bashir Botter, and the release of all of the other
activists, to Pakistan's chief executive at <ce@pak.gov.pk>.

BY FAROOQ TARIQ

[The author is the general secretary of the Labour Party Pakistan.]

From GLW issue 409