A workers day at Faisalabad

A workers day at Faisalabad
by Farooq Tariq

Over 10,000 workers picketed a power loom factory in Sadhar Faisalabad for over 8 hours on 24 June. They were demanding the arrest of the owner of the factory and his gangsters. The factory owner, Asif, a Muslim League Q member of Punjab Assembly (MPA), directed its gangsters to open fire directly on the 300 workers protesting outside the factory for higher wages. Seven workers were shot at and severely injured. They were rushed to the Allied Hospital in Faisalabad. One of them was in critical condition.

On hearing the news of the firing, the workers of all the power looms and textile factories of the area walked out in protest and picketed (Gherao) the factory from where the firing started. The workers were led by the local leaders of Labour Qaumi Movement, an organization of textile workers, supported by Labour Party Pakistan and several radical social movements.

The main leaders of LQM were busy elsewhere in Faisalabad where workers has taken action for better wages. Almost half of the Faisalabad power loom workers were on strike for the last two days on the call of LQM. Faisalabad is the largest textile city of Pakistan and third largest city of Pakistan. A private television channel Express started a live broadcast from the scene of the picket. This brought more workers on the spot.

Those who had fired on workers were forced to remain inside the factory. The police wanted to take them out, workers will not allow the police to enter the factory. They did not have any trust on police. They were demanding the arrest of the MPA, who had fled the scene already. Hundreds of police was mobilized from all over the district. As police tried to enter the factory to rescue the gangsters, the workers resisted. Police fired tear gas, and fired in the air but some even fired directly.
The workers retaliated with stones and forced the police to retreat. They could not enter the factory. In the meantime, there were more and more workers coming in and joining the picket.

Earlier on 8 June 2008, the LQM had organized a workers conference in the area. It was attended by over 5000 and was addressed by Labour Party Pakistan general secretary Nisar Shah, Sarwar Bari of Pattan Development organization and other labour leaders. The speakers announced that that Peshgi (advance) system is illegal and no boss can cut the Peshgi from workers wages. They also demanded a social security card for every worker and implementation of labour laws. The conference set a very radical mood among workers. It was first largest manifestation of workers power in the area.

As we heard the news in Lahore, four of us left for Faisalabad immediately, a two and half hour drive from Lahore. When we arrived around 5.30 pm, police had already been on retreat. As we waved our red flags, hundreds of workers came to shout slogans against police and for workers unity and solidarity. We went to the besieged factory and workers started gathering around us. I warned the bosses of a nationwide campaign if the bosses are not arrested particularly the MPA. We also told workers not to burn factories and no violence. “Violence will always play in the hands of the bosses and the state” I declared. Earlier, some enraged workers had burnt three factories owned by the same boss.

As I finished my speech, I was told that there is yet another injured worker hit by bullet found in near by field. I rushed the injured worker to the hospital in my car. He was hit by a bullet in his foot. The injured workers told me that he was asked by the gangsters to run away, he refused, then they fired around him, he did not run, then they fired at his foot, he was unconscious for some time and hours later, he was rushed to the hospital. Workers feared of his arrest if they dare to take him to hospital. I went through hundreds of policemen and asked them to give way to take the worker to hospital.

A nearby main road was closed by women belonging to the families of the workers. They were also in hundreds. They took the decision on their own to close the road to insert more pressure on the administration. This was the result of the speeches of LPP leaders at the conference who had asked the workers to involve women in the movement.

In the meantime, the workers allowed the police to enter the factory.
After admitting him to hospital, I came back to the area with Aslam Meraj, labour secretary Labour Party Pakistan Punjab, who was at the hospital to take care of the seven injured workers brought in the afternoon. We arrived back to hear that Punjab Labour Minister is rushing to the area. In the meantime, all the main private media had arrived at the scene and it had become national news. Ashraf Sohna, the labour minister arrived and came straight to the place we were standing. Aslam Meraj gave a brief of what happened and made it clear that until the demands are not met, we will not lift the picket of the factory. The Labour Minister told the big crowed that I will get the MPA arrested and will not leave Faisalabad until the arrest. He also said that all the demands of the workers will be met.

We then proceeded to negotiate with top police officers. Aslam Tareen the senior superintendent of Police Faisalabad told us, that he has arrested the MPA and nine other gangsters and recovered fifteen sophisticated guns from the factory. On hearing this, we agreed to provide a safe passage to the arrested gangsters. We asked the workers to let the police van come close the factory and take away the arrested ones. This was done although some workers still threw stones in anger when the police van was leaving.

While we were leaving to Lahore around 10pm, all the roads around the area were stopped by young workers. We were stopped at several places and when they knew who we were or they recognized us, they allowed us to leave.
It was a workers day at Faisalabad and in Pakistan. A new history of militant struggle has been written by the power loom workers. They had shown the power of the industrial workers.

Farooq Tariq
spokesperson Labour Party Pakistan 40-Abbot Road Lahore, Pakistan Tel: 92 42 6315162 Fax: 92 42 6271149 Mobile: 92 300 8411945
labour_party@ yahoo.com www.laborpakistan. org www.jeddojuhd. com