Global Union Demands Release of Detained Pakistani Trade Union Leader
The Global Union for textiles and clothing has urged Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani to step in to secure the immediate release of the leader of one of its affiliates who was detained earlier this week for conducting legitimate trade union activities.Â
Says Neil Kearney, General Secretary of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation: "Niaz Khan, the General Secretary of the carpet workers union and a leader of the National Trade Union Federation, was arrested along with thirty-three others in connection with a dispute at the Inter Wood Furniture company in Lahore, a company which has used a range of dirty tactics to destroy the recently-formed union at the plant, including dismissing union leaders and illegally closing its doors until further notice.
"In spite of warnings from the Crimes Investigation Agency not to get involved in the dispute, Niaz Khan continued to actively support the workers in their struggle.
"In the early hours of Wednesday morning, he and thirty-three union leaders and activists were detained in a series of night raids in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Those arrested include two other leaders of the National Trade Union Federation who were arrested in Lahore and thirty activists of the Labour Qaumi Movement, an organisation supporting textile workers, who were arrested in Faisalabad. The police was looking for a fourth NTUF leader and when they were unable to locate him they arrested his father instead.
"Mr. Khan has been indicted on trumped-up charges of robbery dating back to 2006 in a case in which he was not even named. He appeared in court today and has today been remanded for a further three days. We are deeply concerned at reports that he has been tortured while in detention".
The ITGLWF has urged the government to intervene to secure the immediate and unconditional release of the detained trade union leaders and activists as well as to investigate the allegations that Niaz Khan has been subjected to torture and, if the allegations are found to be true, to punish those responsible. The ITGLWF has further urged the government to intervene to secure a swift resolution to the conflict at the Inter Wood Furniture company.
The ITGLWF is seeking an urgent meeting with Pakistan's Ambassador to Belgium to discuss the matter.
