34 activists held and 1,300 booked
LAHORE - At least 34 trade and labour union activists and leaders
have been arrested during last one week all over the province
including the City. Besides, police have registered cases against
1,300 workers due to their involvement in unionism.
The Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) and National Trade Union Federation
Pakistan (NTUFP) have said the police have conducted late night
raids at the homes of union leaders and arrested over 34 labour
union workers, who are active in organising the unions in their
respective industries.
They pointed out that there seemed to be no difference between the
Musharaf dictatorship and present democratic Punjab government when
it comes to the workers rights. “It is shameful on the part of the
Shahbaz Sharif government that workers are being arrested on the
behest of owners of factories just because they are organising
themselves,” they maintained.
They said that 30 activists of Labour Qaumi Movement (LQM), a
Faisalabad-based labour organisation of textile workers, have been
arrested on fake charges of murder attempt, dacoity and kidnapping
for ransom.
They further told the two main leaders of LQM, Rana Tahir and Raja
Arshad have also been arrested adding their real crime was to
establish a union at Kamal Textile Mills, Faisalabad.
Labour Party Pakistan spokesperson Farooq Tariq during a Press
conference at Lahore Press Club said that four trade union leaders
were arrested in Lahore including Niaz Khan, general secretary of
Ittehad Labour Union Carpet Industries Pakistan and leader of
National Trade Union Federation.
He said Niaz Khan had been warned by the CIA for his involvement in
workers’ protest at Interwood factory. The others who were arrested
include Khurram Shahzad, Abdul Qadir and Amanat Ali, he added.
Amanat Ali, father of another union activist Khurram Shahzad, was
shamelessly arrested when police could not find Khurram, Farooq
informed adding police have been raiding homes of Interwood workers
union since the last night. Even Police misbehaved with females when
they raided the houses of union leaders Ghulam Abbas and Muhammad
Akram, he added.
The Nation :
Published: May 27, 2009 |
