ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: Progressive and left wing political parties and civil society groups have condemned the arrest and intimidation of their leaders and charging them with anti-terrorist act and vowed to continue the struggle for the restoration of the Constitution and judiciary.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Masoodul Hasan and Shiekh Aftab of National Workers Party, Asim Sajjad and Mohammad Jamil of Peoples Rights Movement and Ayub Malik, Mian Aftab Kamzat and Harris Khalique said raids were being conducted to arrest progressive leaders and workers in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and other cities.
They also condemned the arrest of former vice president of Pakistan Bar Council and National Workers Party leader Advocate Akhtar Hussain by Karachi police on Tuesday.
The Lahore police have been raiding the houses of activists of Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) during the last three days. Advocate Nisar Shah, chairperson Labour Party Pakistan, has been charged under Anti-Terrorist Act. He is at present in Adiala Jail along with other political prisoners.
Yousaf Masti Khan, secretary-general of National Workers Party and member central committee Awami Jamhoori Tehreek, the alliance of seven left wing political parties and groups, along with Hasil Bizanjo, Chairman National Party, and several other trade union leaders are kept in Karachi jail. They are facing treason charges.
These leaders were arrested from Karachi Press Club after a demonstration of the left wing parties and trade union activists.
Asma Jahangir, chairperson Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, is still under house detention in Lahore.
It is estimated that over 5,000 political activists and lawyers are behind the bar till Tuesday, since the proclamation of emergency, the statement said.
