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ILO urged to intervene to secure release of Pakistani trade union leadersKarachi, Jun 02, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- On the eve of opening of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, the ILO has been asked to intervene with the government of Pakistan to secure the release of detained trade unionists in Pakistan, says Neil Kearney, General Secretary of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation. Niaz Khan, head of the ITGLWF-affiliated carpet workers union and a leader of the National Trade Union Federation, was arrested along with thirty-three others in connection with a dispute at the Inter Wood Furniture company in Lahore, a company which allegedly used a range of tactics to destroy the recently-formed union at the plant, he said in a statement. It would appear that most have now since been released though Niaz Khan is still in prison on trumped-up charges relating to a robbery some years ago in which he had no involvement. We are extremely concerned at reports that Niaz Khan has been tortured while in prison. Denying trade unionists their fundamental civil liberties and subjecting them to harsh treatment to prevent them from carrying out their legitimate union activities is something that cannot be tolerated, says Kearney. The Global Union Federation has asked the Geneva-based International Labour Organisation to intervene to secure the release of Niaz Khan and any others who are still in detention in relation to this case, and to obtain assurances that Niaz Khan will not be subjected to any further maltreatment. |