June 22, 2007 | Page 2

IN THEIR latest wave of political repression, authorities in Pakistan have targeted Farooq Tariq, general secretary of the Labour Party of Pakistan and a prominent activist in the struggle for democracy against the country's military government.

After being arrested without a warrant June 5, he was sent to the notorious Bahawalpur jail for a three-month detention.

Pakistan has been in crisis since President Pervez Musharraf, a top U.S. ally, suspended the head of the country's supreme court after he issued several rulings against the government. The issue became a lightning rod for those who want an end to the military control of the government that dates from 1999, when Musharraf, the head of the armed forces, seized power in coup.

What you can do Send a message demanding Farooq Tariq's release to President Pervez Musharraf at his Web site.

Since then, Musharraf, who relies on money and political support from the U.S., has tried to cultivate a democratic image by holding elections and promising to step down as top military commander in the future.

But his high-handed removal of Judge Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudry on March 9 sparked mass demonstrations. Musharraf's armed supporters attacked protesters in Karachi, killing 41 and injuring many.

Farooq Tariq was one of hundreds of activists arrested in early June. His transfer to Bahalapur, eight hours from his home city of Lahore, was personally ordered by the home secretary of the Punjab regional government in order to isolate Farooq from Labour Party members and other allies. As an organizer of the World Social Forum event in Karachi last year, Farooq is widely known as a champion of democracy and workers' rights, in Pakistan and internationally.

Prison conditions in Pakistan are terrible, especially for political detainees. A member of the Pakistan People's Party, Sarmad Mansoor, died of heart attack as a result of being jailed, activists said. Farooq, facing severe restrictions on visits, is vulnerable to similar treatment.

"According to authorities, meeting with Farooq can only be arranged after a written permission from the home secretary, which is a sheer violation of constitutional and fundamental rights," members of the Pakistan Labour Party said in message to supporters.

An international campaign is underway in solidarity with Farooq. Supporters should write to government officials directly to demand his release.

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