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 update regarding arrest of Farooq Tariq
Regards,
Khaliq Shah on behalf of LPP
Labour Party Pakistan
40-Abbot Road Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: 92 42 6315162 Fax: 92 42 6271149 Mobile: 92 300 8411945,
labourpartypk yahoo.com www.laborpakistan.org www.jeddojuhd.com
Pakistani socialist arrested
Green Left Weekly
On the afternoon of May 4, a contingent of police arrested Farooq Tariq, the general secretary of the Labour Party Pakistan, in his Lahore office. LPP members in Lahore and Karachi held demonstrations protesting Tariq’s arrest. The party has been targeted for its pro-democracy activities, particularly its role in the ongoing movement for the restoration of the chief justice of Pakistan’s High Court, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
During the weeks prior to his arrest, Tariq had been the target of surveillance by Pakistani intelligence agencies. Several times he was summoned to report to the police and asked to stop his anti-dictatorship activism. He refused.
Messages calling for Tariq’s release can be sent to the interior ministry at minister interior.gov.pk and to Pakistan’s high commission in Canberra: phone (02) 6290 1676; fax (02) 6290 1073; or email parepcanberra internode.on.net.
From: International News, Green Left Weekly issue #708 9 May 2007.
Protests 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
Regards,
Khaliq Shah on behalf LPP
DOCUMENT
The detention order issued against Farooq Tariq
Dear all,
Here is the copy of detention order that I was able to get after I went to court against my arrest.
June 4, 2007
Farooq Tariq
General Secretary
Labour Party Pakistan
Order
Whereas, the goverment of Punjab is satisfied that the activities pf Farooq
Tariq resident of 40 Abbot Road Lahore are prejudicial to public safety and
maintenance of public order, therefore, it is necessary to prevent him from
acting in such a manner.
Now Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred on it under sub section (1)
of section 3 of the maintenance of Public Order Ordinence, 1960, the Government
of Punjab is pleased to direct that Farooq Tariq shall be arrested and detained
for a period of 30 days with immediate effect from the date of entering into
Central Jail, Bahawalpur in the custody of superintendent, Central Jail
Bahawalpur.
The grounds of the above order are as under,
1- That you have been inviting and holding meetings with different elements of
society and instigating them to defy the lawful order of the government which
will result in disruption of peace and may result in serious law and order
situation.
2- There is credible information that you will deliver inflammatory speeches
for insulting the general public in violation of resteiction order under section
144 Cr. P. C.
3- That your activities have been found prejudicial to public safety and
maintainance of public order.
4- That continuance of your above mentioned activities are likely to create
unrest in the public and threat to the law and order situation, thus giving rise
to a situation prejudicial to the public safety and maintenance of public order,
hence this order
You are at liberty to make a representation to the government against this
order.
Khusro Pervaiz Khan
Secretary to government of Punjab Home Department
A copy is forward for information and immediate necessary action to
1. The Provincial Police Officer, Punjab, Lahore, for service upon the detenu.
One copy pf the order duly recevied by the detenu and attested by the servicing
officer may be sent to this Department for record.
2. The inspecter General of Prisons, Punjab, Lahore
3. The Capital City Police Officer, Lahore
4. SSP Operation, Lahore
5. The Superintendent, Central Jail, Bahawalpur