Comrade Riaz Lund, a leading member of the Pakistan section of the IMT and well-known class fighter in Karachi, has been shot in cold blood by assassins. In a cowardly and brutal assault, he was hit three times, twice in the stomach and once in the chest. We publish here statements by Alan Woods and the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC) calling for solidarity against this horrific attack.
Comrade Riaz Lund, a leading member of the Pakistan section of the IMT and well-known class fighter in Karachi, has been shot in cold blood by assassins. In a cowardly and brutal assault, he was hit three times, twice in the stomach and once in the chest. We publish here statements by Alan Woods and thePakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC) calling for solidarity against this horrific attack.
Comrades,
Comrade Riaz Lund, a leading member of the Pakistan section of the IMT and well-known class fighter in Karachi, has been shot in cold blood by assassins. In a cowardly and brutal assault, he was hit three times, twice in the stomach and once in the chest.
At this moment in time we lack precise information about the attack. But we have received the following brief post from a comrade:
“My dear friend and comrade Riaz H Baloch was just shot three times in Karachi in a terrorist attack, twice in the stomach, once in the chest. He was already shot twice a few years back by the MQM in the course of his struggles to fight for socialism in the hell on earth that is modern Pakistan. All our thoughts and revolutionary fervor are with Riaz, one of the most jolly human beings I have ever met, yet among the most serious revolutionaries on the planet. We need no martyrs! Though he is listed in critical condition, Riaz will surely recover and continue the fight all the comrades of the IMT are engaged in: irreconcilable struggle until socialist revolution!”
From this brief report it seems that, despite the seriousness of his injuries, comrade Riaz has survived and the immediate danger has passed. As it says, this is not the first time he has been the target of counterrevolutionary assassins. A few years ago he was shot and wounded by gunmen from the fascist MQM. He survived that attack and we fervently hope that he will pull through again and live to fight against the counterrevolutionary forces that have been spawned by the filthy swamp of rotten Pakistan capitalism.
Comrade Riaz is an exemplary fighter for the cause of the Pakistan working class. He is a leading figure in the Pakistan Trade Union Defence campaign (PTUDC) and is a well-known figure in the Karachi labour movement. He is also utterly dedicated to the cause of international socialism and the IMT. Only a few weeks ago he formed part of the Pakistan delegation to the World Congress of the IMT in Greece. We publish here an article from the press in Pakistan:
“KARACHI: Principal of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Law College, Riaz Baloch, was shot three times in Landhi Manzil Pump area of Karachi on Saturday, leaving him critically injured, Express News reported.On his way to the university, unidentified men shot the principal in an alleged attempted target killing and robbery, police said.He was admitted to Jinnah Hospital, where doctors said that his condition was critical.Out of the three gun shots, he was shot in the stomach twice and in his chest once, police claimed.Upon immediate inspection, police have said that there are no visible bullet holes on the car itself, leading them to assume that the armed men were present inside the car at the time of shooting.” (Tribune, September 13, 2014)
Such treacherous attacks will never break the will to struggle of the Pakistan Marxists. They are accustomed to a life of hardship and danger. But in this difficult time, it is imperative that they should feel that they do not stand alone.
Socialists, trade unionists and revolutionaries from all over the world should express their revulsion at this murderous act and their solidarity and support for comrade Riaz Lund Baloch, for the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign and all the comrades who are struggling against oppression and injustice in Pakistan. [Send to editor@marxist.com and editor@struggle.com.pk]
Red salute/lal salaam to the comrades in Pakistan! Their struggle is our struggle! An injury to one is an injury to all! Let this redouble our resolve to end the nightmare of capitalism once and for all!
Alan Woods, editor of In Defence of Marxism
Statement from the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC)
Comrade Riaz Lund, Central Chairman Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC) and well-known class fighter in Karachi, has been shot in cold blood by assassins. In a cowardly and brutal assault, he was hit three times, twice in the stomach and once in the chest.
Despite the seriousness of his injuries, comrade Riaz has survived and the immediate danger has passed. This is not the first time he has been the target of counterrevolutionary assassins. A few years ago he was shot and wounded by gunmen from the fascist MQM. He survived that attack and we fervently hope that he will pull through again and live to fight against the counterrevolutionary forces that have been spawned by the filthy swamp of rotten Pakistan capitalism.
Comrade Riaz is an exemplary fighter for the cause of the Pakistan working class. He is a leading figure in the Pakistan Trade Union Defence campaign (PTUDC) and is a well-known figure in the Karachi labour movement.
Pakistan Trade Union Defense Campaign (PTUDC) is an international solidarity campaign which was set up in 1995 after a factory labour leader was killed by his employers. Amid terrorism in Pakistan, there is a high level of workplace exploitation including harsh working condition, brutal child labor, underpaid employment (especially of women), absence of health and safety at workplaces and many more. Government is doing almost nothing to address the concerns of workers – instead they are busy helping large businesses in the form of tax-cuts, subsidies and bailouts. Workers are left on the whim of capitalists who oppress them badly.
Riaz stood up to fight for the cause of labour and devoted his life to struggle for the rights of workers in Pakistan. PTUDC under the leadership of Riaz Lund has successfully organised and intervened in the struggle of steel mill workers, young doctors, women nurses, railway workers, teachers and water & power workers. PTUDC also initiated a campaign against Privatisation of industries. PTUDC through its supporters in various countries initiated active campaign in respective countries in support of Pakistan Labor Movement.
Riaz Baluch survived this attack, and we hope that he will live to fight against all form of oppressions faced by the working class of Pakistan. We demand that the government should immediately arrest the culprits involved and deal them according to the law. Such treacherous attacks will never break the will to struggle of the comrades organized in PTUDC. They are accustomed to a life of hardship and danger. But in this difficult time, it is imperative that they should feel that they do not stand alone.
Socialists, trade unionists and revolutionaries from all over the world should express their revulsion at this murderous act and their solidarity and support for comrade Riaz Lund Baloch, for the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign and all the comrades who are struggling against oppression and injustice in Pakistan.
Send solidarity messages at:
E-Mail: editor@struggle.com.pk
Postal Address: Pakistan Trade Union Defense Campaign, Office No. 210-Second Floor Al-Burhan Centre, Rizvi Shaheed Road, Sadar, Karachi;
Phone: +92-21–2224816; Fax (Lahore office): +92-42–6365659;
Condemnation messages should be sent to:
- Inspector General of Police, Sindh Police Headquarters, I.I Chundrigar Rd, Karachi, Pakistan – Phones: +92-21-99212626, +92-21-99212627; Fax: +92-21-99212051
- Chief Minister of Sindh, Chief Minister’s House, Civil Lines, Karachi, Pakistan – Phones: +92-21-99202022, +92-21-99202047 Fax: +92-21- 99212941
