Urgent Appeal: Brutal Attack on our Comrades in Pakistan

Hundreds of fundamentalists belonging to the most notorious religious organisation, Islami Jamiat Tulba (an outfit of Jamat Islami), attacked our comrades in the heart of the provincial capital Lahore. This happened while the comrades were engaged in registering the unemployed youth.

Hundreds of fundamentalists belonging to the most notorious religious organisation, Islami Jamiat Tulba (an outfit of Jamat Islami), attacked our comrades in the heart of the provincial capital Lahore. The comrades were engaged in registering the unemployed youth under the banner of Berozgar Naujawan Tehrek (Unemployed Youth Movement) at the registration camp on a busy Anarkali street. The event was held with the due permission of the local police. Ironically, police were present at the scene.

The following comrades were brutally attacked as they were registering the unemployed: Comrade Saqlain Shah (Executive Editor of the magazine Asian Marxist Review (AMR)), comrade Yasar Irshahd (National Organiser of the Unemployed Youth Movement), comrade Hinna Zain (National Organiser of Youth For International Socialism), comrade Shahida Jabeen (Patron of the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign), comrade Abid, comrade Fahad Butt, comrade Rehan, and comrade Sumera. They were hospitalised immediately after the attack and are now recovering.

The hooligans of the religious organisation ransacked the whole camp. They also burnt our comrades' books and literature. Meanwhile the police just watched, permitting the criminal assault. We strongly condemn the attack, and we reiterate our resolve to continue our struggle - even in the face of such brutality.

Yasar Irshad
National Organiser
Berozgar Naujawan Tehrek (Unemployed Youth Movement)
Lahore Pakistan

Letters of protest should be addressed to:

President General Pervaiz Musharraf
Email: ce@pak.gov.pk

Governer of Punjab
Email: governor@punjab.gov.pk

Please send copies of all protest and solidarity messages to the PTUDC at: info@ptudc.org

Visit the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign website: www.ptudc.org