Jeremy Dear, Gen Sec of the NUJ, adds his voice of protest against intimidation of PPP activists Pakistan Share Tweet After the serious physical threats against PPP activists in Karachi, Jeremy Dear, General Secretary of the NUJ has added his voice of protest, condemning the attack and warning that if any PPP activist should be harmed he will raise the issue with the relevant authorities. I have been informed of the serious physical threats to PPP activists in Karachi as they took part in the election campaign. A democratic election has been called for January 8 and the Emergency has been lifted. This is welcome news, but what we cannot accept is violence, physical threats and attempted kidnappings against anyone taking part in the democratic process. I understand that PPP activists, comrades Haseeb Ahmed and Zaka-ur-Rehman were seriously threatened by an armed gang on December 18 as they were putting up posters and canvassing. The gang attempted to kidnap one of the comrades. In my long experience as leader of the Nation Union of Journalists I have had to deal with threats to bona fide journalists carrying out their fact-finding duties. I understand that this is also a problem in parts of Pakistan, where brutal methods are still being used against journalists who dare to report the facts. I personally commit myself to raising within the wider labour movement both in Britain and internationally this case of attempted intimidation of activists of the PPP. If any harm should come to them we will take it up with the relevant authorities in Pakistan and internationally. An injury to one is an injury to all. Jeremy Dear, General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (Britain) - personal capacity, December 21, 2007 See also: Pakistan: serious threats to Marxists during election campaign by our correspondent in Pakistan (December 19, 2007)
