Intelligence agencies tracking Pakistan communists

[Spirit of Spartacus]

Message from the CMKP to all comrades...


CMKP Comrades' Lives in Danger

Dear Comrades,

I wish to inform you that for the past 2-3 weeks,
comrade Bhagat Singh is being continuously monitored
by intelligence agencies. He has recieved calls from
unknown numbers, including a threat stating:


"Yeh jo naalion mein log paray huay hotay hain, yeh hum
hey phainktay hain"

(translation: all these dead bodies lying in
drains, we have thrown them there).

The mail that he is receiving at home is also being monitored.
it is often opened from one end before it arrives.

The CMKP requests your solidarity if he is arrested or
if some other harm comes to any of our member. We
request that you write about the contribution that the
CMKP has made to the lawyers movement in your
respective journals. We will also like to contribute
an article. And in that highlight the fact that the
lives of communists are seriously at risk and in the
event of an incident they require your solidarity for
an international campaign for their safety and
release.

I appeal to comrades to bury the hatchet and to come
together to defend our comrade in this hour of need.
History will never forgive us if we do not put our
personal differences aside for the larger cause.


I will not mention the name of the comrade who is being threatened. He
goes by the name "Bhagat Singh", after the famous South Asian
revolutionary who was hanged by the British colonial government.

The comrade who was threatened has a leading role in organizing the struggle of the Pakistani workers and peasants, and in mobilizing young people, especially communists, to rally in support of the democratic movement of the Pakistani lawyers, who are resisting the gangster methods of our military government.

Is is likely that the intelligence agencies are angered by the active
communist role in assisting the lawyers' movement. It is also likely
that they feel threatened by the efforts to reach out to labor unions
and students in an effort to build a revolutionary movement.

It is quite probable that other comrades are also being tracked.

The Pakistani intelligence agencies are notorious for making people
"disappear". Torture, threats, intimidation and coercion are their
foremost tools for defending the reactionary pro-imperialist military
regime.

Hundreds of people, mostly political activists, have disappeared over
the past few years, many more have been attacked, threatened or
silenced in various other ways.
400 people (mostly political activists) disappeared some months ago,
before Musharraf's visit to the province of Balochistan, where
nationalist rebels are fighting against the exploitative military
regime.

Now the communist movement is also being targeted, along with other
progressive forces in the country.

One of the threatening phone-calls received by our comrade mentions a
common tactic of intelligence agencies, i.e. extra-judicial killings.

The CMKP wishes to expose the brutal and reactionary nature of the
military-dominated regime of Pakistan, and its politician henchmen.

The CMKP hopes that comrades worldwide will unite in solidarity with
our cause if any of our members is attacked or harmed in any
way by the reactionary state here, or if any other progressive,
anti-imperialist elements are targeted.


Down with the lackeys of Yankee colonialism!
Down with the dictatorship of these running-dogs of imperialism!

Inquilab Zindabad!
Samraj Murdabad!


Stupid henchmen! Your "order" is built on sand!

(Rosa Luxembourg)

[chebol]

Dear Madam/Sir,

Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) and its Chairman, Engineer Jameel Ahmad Malik strongly condemned the arrest of Comrade Farooq Tariq, Secretary General of the Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) and the threat as given to Comrade Bhagat Singh, an activist of Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party (CMKP).

The arrest of Comrade Farooq Tariq and threat to Comrade Bhagat Singh shows the usual tactics of the Federal and Punjab Government. The true fact is that in Pakistan, in each and every city, there are communists, socialists and progressive elements in quite large numbers but as they are scattered and not united and so we are not able to throw a positive impact on the public yet. This is a fact and atleast we admit.

The positive thing which we can drive from the arrest of Comrade Farooq Tariq and threat to Comrade Bhagat Singh by Intelligence Agencies is that we should atleast develop some consensus on political issues and our Party will welcome such a move and initiative from any left and progressive Party in this context.

With regards,

Press Media of CPP.
Mob: 0300-9543331.

[chebol]

*Farooq Tariq Arrested*
Dear all,
General Secretary Labour Party Pakistan , comrade Farooq Tariq was
arrested from his Lahore office by a heavy contingent of Punjab Police
at 1:30 p.m on Friday. He has been taken to garhi shahu police station,
Lahore where he would be detained. It may be mentioned that Farooq
Tariq
and Labour Party Pakistan has been in the forefront in the on-going
movement for restoration of chief justice of Pakistan , Iftekhar
Mohammed Chaudhry. Farooq Tariq is among the leading activists
organizing tomorrow’s reception in the honour of chief justice Iftikhar
Muhammad choudhry.
Farooq Tariq was a bit aware about his possible arrest as a news item
has already been published about a list of persons may be arrested in
daily jang. When he contacted the police station about the mention of
his name in list of persons who might be arrested, the police officers
denied this news item. So Farooq was relaxed and was doing his work as
usual at party office. But suddenly a police van reached at 1.30 pm
before his office and men in uniform rushed to his office to arrest
him.
Labour Party Pakistan thinks the purpose of the arrest is to stop LPP
from exercising its democratic right to protest. We condemn his illegal
arrest and demands immediate release. LPP tomorrow’s scheduled
reception
for chief justice Pakistan will be held at district courts according to
the program.
We will keep you update regarding arrest of Farooq Tariq
Regards
Khaliq Shah on behalf of LPP

[chebol]

Dear friends,

Here is a suggested message of protest over the illegal arrest of Farooq Tariq, Labour Party Pakistan general secretary:

I/We,..., strongly condemn the arrest of Labour Party Pakistan general secretary Farooq Tariq by Punjabi Police in Lahore on Friday May 4, and demand his immediate release. Farooq Tariq has been a prominent leader of the campaign for the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudry, and was centrally involved in the planned reception for the suspended chief justice.

The arrest of Farooq Tariq is clearly aimed at disrupting the campaign to defend Chief justice Chaudry, and is a further attack on democratic rights in Pakistan.

I/We reiterate our call to immediately release Farooq Tariq and reinstate Chief Justice Chaudry.

Signed:

Send to:

President Pervez Musharraf
c/-Pakistan High Commission in Australia
[email protected] internode. on.net

cc Minister of Interior
[email protected] gov.pk

Please send copies to: <[email protected] yahoo.com> and <[email protected] pk>

Alternatively we could send a fax/letter to:

H.E. Pervez Musharraf
President
Office of the President
Awan-E-Sadar
Constitution Avenue
Islamabad
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Fax: +92 51 2 20-39-38

HIGH COMMISSION FOR PAKISTAN, CANBERRA
4 Timbarra Crescent, O&#39;Malley ACT 2606 (Australia)
Tel: 61-2-62901676, 62902769, 62901879 & 62901031
Fax: 61-2-62901073
Email: [email protected] internode. on.net
Postal Address: PO Box 684, Mawson ACT 2607

[chebol]

*Protests in **Lahore**, **Karachi** against Farooq Tariq arrest*
Dear all,
LAHORE : Dozens of Labour Party members and activists Friday held
separate protest demonstrations in Lahore and Karachi in front of
respective Press clubs against the illegal arrest and detention of LPP
Secretary General Farooq Tariq. The protestors were holding banners and
play cards inscribed with slogans against police and Mushraff regime.
They were demanding immediate release of Farooq Tariq. The participants
vowed to continue struggle for democracy and independence of judiciary.
Meanwhile, several civil society organizations, political parties and
trade unions have condemned the arrest of Farroq Tariq and demanded his
immediate release. Renowned HR activist Hina Jillani also visited
police station to hold a meeting with Farooq. Talking to party activists on
the occasion Farooq Tariq said he is in high spirits and urged all the LPP
members to join in maximum numbers in Saturday’s welcome procession for
Chief Justice Iftekhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
Earlier General Secretary, Labour Party Pakistan, comrade Farooq Tariq
was arrested from his Lahore office by a heavy contingent of Punjab
Police at 1:30 pm on Friday. He was taken to Garhi Shahu police
station, Lahore where he has been detained for a period not exactly known yet.
Police is not going to disclose any information or details regarding
his arrest. But according to some sources close to police, Farooq Tariq may
be detained for a period of one month.
It may be mentioned that Farooq Tariq and Labour Party Pakistan has
been in the forefront in the on-going movement for the restoration of chief
justice of Pakistan , Iftekhar Mohammed Chaudhry. Since the beginning
of the judicial crisis about six weeks ago LPP and Farooq Tariq has been
playing a vital role in consolidating the lawyers movement by
developing solidarity base among masses through organizing public meetings,
protest demos, and rallies against Mushrraf regime.
For a last couple of weeks’ state intelligence agencies were actively
mirroring Farooq Tariq’s activities and movements. LPP was pressurized
by the police to abandon support to lawyers’ movement. More than twice
Farooq was summoned to police station and asked to stop his
anti-government activities. But Farooq refused to bow down. On May 4 a
list of 32 persons who may be arrested was published in daily Jang.
When Farooq contacted the concerned police officials about the mention of
his name in list of persons who might be arrested, the police officers
denied the validity of news item. So Farooq was relax and was doing his
work as usual at party office. At 1:30 pm suddenly a police van reached
before his 40/Abbot Road office, a dozen of men in uniform cordoned of
the office, four of them rushed to his office and arrested him.
The purpose of the arrest is aimed at disrupting the campaign to defend
Chief Justice Chaudry, and is a further attack on democratic rights in
Pakistan. LPP condemns this illegal arrest and demands immediate
release of Farooq Tariq. LPP’s May 5 planned reception for chief justice
Pakistan will be held at Lower Mall district courts according to the
program.
We will keep you update regarding arrest of Farooq Tariq


Farooq Ahmad
General secretary
Labour Party Pakistan (N.W.F.P)
Mobile No.00923005942324
Pohan colony street#2 Malakand road Mardan(Pakistan)

[chebol]

Over 1,000 held on eve of CJ’s visit
http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/05/top2.htm

By Ashraf Mumtaz & Asif Shahzad

LAHORE: As lawyers and opposition parties prepared to accord an enthusiastic welcome to Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry here on Saturday, police picked up over 1,000 political activists in different parts of the province in an attempt to foil the reception.

Besides Lahore, most of the arrests were made in Gujranwala, Gujrat and other districts along the GT Road, the route the chief justice plans to take from Islamabad with his supporters.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League will hold a rally in support of the presidential reference against the chief justice and against the elements which it thinks are out to pressure the Supreme Judicial Council. Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi held meetings with various party leaders and nazims on Friday to discuss arrangements for the rally. He also hosted a dinner at Bagh-i-Jinnah where all important leaders, ministers and nazims of the ruling party were present.

Leaders of the parties in the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf have directed their supporters to reach the designated places in large numbers to receive the chief justice.

Punjab home department sources told Dawn that around 400 activists had been picked up in Lahore.

About 250 activists and their relatives area reported to have been arrested in Gujranwala, 300 in Gujrat, 200 in Sheikhupura, 67 in Sialkot, 60 in Sargodha and 40 in Mandi Bahaudin.A torch-bearing rally of lawyers was baton charged by police in Sahiwal. The police action caused a stampede and a fire which burnt two cars and injured 21 lawyers.

“It is state terrorism,” said Punjab People’s Party Parliamentarians general secretary Ghulam Abbas, claiming that police had picked up thousands of PPP activists. The PML (Nawaz)and the MMA also made similar claims.

Lahore police chief Malik Mohammad Iqbal said over 5,000 personnel of the force, including commandos and men in civvies, would be on road. Police would also set up pickets at all entry points of the city, he added.

A police official said scanners would be installed around the venue of the reception and people going there would have to pass through security checks.



Also: Jang News says 500 detained.

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=21891

[dez]

what&#39;s the position of general muslim community towards "the presidential reference against the chief justice" ?

[Spirit of Spartacus]

@ chebol

Thanks for the additional information.

We must condemn, expose and fight against all these efforts to silence progressive and revolutionary forces in Pakistan.


@ in motion


what&#39;s the position of general muslim community towards "the presidential reference against the chief justice" ?

Those who are politically aware tend to condemn it.

[dez]

and what about those who are not?
What&#39;s the stand of the majority?
do you think a campaign focusing on them could be successful?

[sexyguy]

The true fact is that in Pakistan, in each and every city, there are communists, socialists and progressive elements in quite large numbers but as they are scattered and not united and so we are not able to throw a positive impact on the public yet. This is a fact and atleast we admit.


Comrade Farooq Ahmad and all communists, socialists and progressive elements.

Thanks for keeping us informed of developments.

Apart from the vicious US backed state thugs and their stooges, what are the main points of contention that keep the revolutionary forces scattered and disunited? What policies (if any) are being perused by the leaders of the various factions to overcome the disunity?

As you know, these are problems that are faced by the entire international anti-imperialist movement.

[Spirit of Spartacus]

Thanks for keeping us informed of developments.

Apart from the vicious US backed state thugs and their stooges, what are the main points of contention that keep the revolutionary forces scattered and disunited? What policies (if any) are being perused by the leaders of the various factions to overcome the disunity?

As you know, these are problems that are faced by the entire international anti-imperialist movement.

State repression was a major problem for communists here, and as you can see, it still continues.

The communist movement was targetted from 1951 onwards, and forced to operate using front groups.

It was only in 1994 that the ban on communists was removed.

At the moment, petty factionalism is a problem for growing Left here. Unity would make the communists a political force to be reckoned with.