Dear all,

I would be going to Okara tomorrow to take part in Asma Jehanghir solidarity rally by the peasants of the Okara Military Farms. Scores of tenants from different public sector farms will come from different parts of Okara and Pakpattan districts to participate in this rally. They want to give a clear message to those who have planned to eliminate Asma Jehanghir that the vast majority of the peasants and tenants of the two districts. They have a reason to take part in this rally. Mehr Abdul Sattar general secretary Anjman Mozareen Punjab told me earlier today that many tenants of the Military Farms will join the rally.

While the tenants of Okara Military Farms were fighting for the land rights during general Musharaf era, Asma Jehanghir came several times to lend an open support to them. I asked her to come with us to Okara just after Bashir, a tenant from Renalakhurd, was murdered by the military officials in January 2002, she did not hesitate for a minute and we visited the area controlled by the military despite the threats. She spoke in two public meetings and supported the peasants women in particular who were in the forefront of the struggle.

Asma came to Okara on several other occasions, she was even thrown out of Okara when a military officers asked her not to come, she still came and was whisked away of the district. I had that treatment several times already. On an other occasion, she went to see the chief minister of the time Pervaiz Ilahi and asked him to stop a Gherao of the district. We were ten of us at time with her. Pervaiz Ilahi asked her to visit the director general of Rangers, we then went to see him, just to ask him that rangers should be withdrawn from the area. We had hard time with this bugger.

It was not just Asma, but all the progressive forces who were with this first mass revolt against the military in Pakistan and that was the peasantry.

The peasants refused to pay what they were paying to military farms administration for over 100 years. They are still not paying after 12 years of this struggle. Most of the leadership of the AMP are members of Labour Party Pakistan. They have not gone to any party of the rich but opted to join parties of the Left.

I did not ask the peasant leaders to do anything on this occasion when state actors are threatening Asma,s life. I was told by AMP leadership that they are taking a big rally in support of Asma. I was very happy when I heard about it. This was a timely action by them.

I have read the whole debate with interest about this action of the peasants. I hope that situation would be more clear after this explanation.

Joint Action Committee For Peoples Rights Lahore is also holding a protest meeting on 15^th JUne at Aiwan Iqbal Lahore at 3pm. Labour Party Pakistan is mobalising its membership to attend this protest meeting so is National Trade Union Federation, Labour Education Foundation and Women Workers Help Line along with other social and political groups.

Asma Jehanghir was always a help to us in difficult times. She appeared in courts several times on our behalf. At one time, she even brought her home ownership papers to get all 18 of us out on bail when we were arrested during a protest of LPP against the fraudulent referendum of General Musharaf, after she successfully argued our case for bail.

A threat to Asma is not a personal one, it is a threat to all the progressive forces of Pakistan. We have to stand united and lend her full support in this difficult time.

Farooq Tariq