November 17, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 06, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: An alliance of political parties and group has vowed to continue struggle against military dictatorship, and for the restoration of genuine democracy and rule of law.

Masoodul Hasan and Sheikh Aftab of National Workers Party (NWP), a component of Awami Jamhoori Tehreek (AJT), in a statement here on Friday, said over 200 activists and leaders from different left wing parties had been arrested during the last 12 days since the imposition of the emergency. The AJT is an alliance of seven left wing parties and groups.

They said over 140 activists of Awami Tehreek (AT) had been arrested during the last four days in almost all districts of Sindh.

The Awami Tehreek leader, Rasul Bukhsh Palejo, has gone underground and police are hunting for him. His houses and offices have been raided several times. The AT has launched a movement of courting arrests in every district of Sindh.

The Punjab police has been conducting raids on the house of the secretary-general of Labour Party Pakistan Tariq Farooq who has also gone underground.

The general secretary of National Workers Party, Advocate Akhtar Hussain, senior vice-president Yousaf Masti Khan and Labour Party of Pakistan Chairman Advocate Nisar Shah, who have been charged under treason and anti-terrorism acts, are among the arrested 200 activists of the AJT.

Bilal Minto, son of eminent lawyer and AJT convener Abid Hassan Minto, was one of the first social activists arrested at Human Rights Commission of Pakistan meeting in Lahore on November 4.

LPP national committee member Azra Shahid and Khalid Malik of Labour Education Foundation were also among the arrested 60 social activists.

They called for lifting of emergency, restoration of judiciary and release of lawyers, journalists and political activists.—Our Reporter