Pakistan Brutal Attacks Update New Protest Messages sent to President Musharraf and to the Governor of Punjab

Regarding attacks on PTUDC and Unemployed youth

If not only appalling attacks on members of the Pakistani Trade Union Defense campaign and the Unemployed Youth Movement by the islamic fundamentalist group Jamat Islami weren't disgusting enough but to add insult to injury police and the Pakistani government turned a blind eye and let this violence continue, although, this is not surprising since as workers and poor we can only count on ourselves to defend us from violent reaction. In the face of this violent attack I give my utmost support for the PTUD and the unemployed youth as well as all comrades of pakistan that stand up agaisnt this and other violent oppression by the bourgeoisie and reactionary religious groups. Strong condemnation to Jamat Islami, the police of Pakistan, and the corrupt Pakistani government

J.Shelton
Workers International league - U.S.
29 July 2004

To President General Pervaiz Musharraf

28 July 2004

Dear Mr President,

The Iranian Revolutionary Socialists' League (IRSL) would hereby like to bring to your attention the brutal attack by hundreds of fundamentalists belonging to the Islami Jamiat Tulba on our comrades in the heart of Lahore. The comrades were engaged in registering the unemployed youth under the banner of Berozgar Naujawan Tehrek at the registration camp on a busy Anarkali street. The event was held with the due permission of the local police who were present at the scene.

We condemn this unprovoked, brutal and heinous attack on the comrades who were registering the unemployed. The following comrades were hospitalised immediately after the attack and are now recovering: Comrade Saqlain Shah (Executive Editor of the magazine Asian Marxist Review (AMR)), comrade Yasar Irshahd (National Organiser of the Unemployed Youth Movement), comrade Hinna Zain (National Organiser of Youth For International Socialism), comrade Shahida Jabeen (Patron of the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign), comrade Abid, comrade Fahad Butt, comrade Rehan, and comrade Sumera.

The hooligans of the religious organisation ransacked the whole camp. They also burnt our comrades' books and literature. Meanwhile the police just watched, permitting the criminal assault.

We urge you take all action that is open to you to find, apprehend, try and sentence the perpetrators of this barbaric act.

Yours sincerely

M. Razi, Sara Ghazi, Amin Kazemi and Roza Javan
For and on behalf of IRSL
July 28, 2004

Fundamentalist violence in Lahore

Dear Sirs/Ladies,

with this mail I want to show my concerns about the situation of islamic
fundamentalism in Pakistan.

I condemn the brutal attack of the Islami Jamiat Talba on the BNT Camp.
Several activists of the Berozgar Naujawan Tehrek were hurt in this attack.
Although the police was there, they did not stop this criminal action and
just watched it. The newspapers ignored the incident completely.

I also ask myself if the government is afraid to act against these insane
and violent fundamentalist sects... or maybe there is no will to act against
them because they are seen as allies in your government?

Groups that base themselves on reactionary ideas and violence are better
placed in a prison than in a government!

Verena Stross, activist of the Socialist Youth in Austria
July 28, 2004

Letter of protest

Dear Sir,

We -Members of the AL-MONADIL organisation- strongly condemn the crimenal attack of The hooligans of the religious organisation (Islami Jamiat Tulba) against our comrades: Comrade Saqlain Shah (Executive Editor of the magazine Asian Marxist Review (AMR), comrade Yasar Irshahd (National Organiser of the Unemployed Youth Movement), comrade Hinna Zain (National Organiser of Youth For International Socialism), comrade Shahida Jabeen (Patron of the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign), comrade Abid, comrade Fahad Butt, comrade Rehan, and comrade Sumera.and we also condemn the crimenal attitude of the police whoses were present at the scene!

AL-MONADIL
Morocco
28/07/2004