On June 12, Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) organised a protest in front of the Lahore Press Club against the illegal detention of LPP general secretary Farooq Tariq, who was arrested on June 5 and given a three-month detention order. Braving 47°C heat, more than 300 protesters gathered, raising slogans against General Pervez Musharraf's regime and demanding the immediate release of Tariq and all other political prisoners.
A large number of LPP workers and representatives of civil society organisations, trade unions and political parties participated in the demonstration. Speakers included Irfan Mufti, secretary of the Pakistan Social Forum; Kawar Hehmood Khatana, convener of the Lahore High Court lawyers committee for coordination with civil society; president of the All Pakistan Teachers Federation Muhammad Azam Butt; general secretary of the National Workers Party Malik Aslam; LPP chairperson Nisar Shah; advocate (lawyer) professor Nisar Saffadar; Mahmood Butt, general secretary of the All Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union; Azra Shad, chairperson of the Women Workers Help Line; Yousif Baloch and Moin Nawaz Pannu of the National Trade Union Federation; and Saleemulla of Jamiat Ulamia Pakistan.
According to Tariq's brother, who visited him in Bahawalpur jail, Tariq and the other political prisoners are facing inhumane prison conditions. They are bundled 10-12 to a room with a severe lack of food, water and toilet facilities in temperatures up to 50°C. No-one is allowed to meet Tariq in jail without the prior permission of the home secretary. Tariq and other prisoners have also been taken out on long drives alone without being told where they are going or why.
On June 14, Tariq was moved to Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore. The previous day, a prisoner from the Pakistan People's Party serving a three-month sentence in the same jail died of a heart attack. The PPP holds the prison authorities responsible, for subjecting him to inhumane conditions and mental torture.
Send protest messages against Tariq's detention to:
Musharraf at +92 51 922 1422 (fax) or via <http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/WTPresidentMessage.aspx>.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at <primeminister@pak.gov.pk>.
Pujub Chief Minister Pervez Elahi via <http://www.chpervaizelahi.com/writemsg.asp>.
Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool at +92 42 9200023 (fax) or email <governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk>.