Seven comrades abducted in Pak; sparks widespread protests

Islamabad [Pakistan], Apr. 24 (ANI): Protests were held across Pakistan on Monday to demand the release of seven comrades of International Marxist Tendency (IMT) who have been allegedly abducted from Karachi by the Pakistan Army and Sindh Rangers.

The protests were held in Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawlakot and other cities after the abduction of comrades.

The said comrades had supported the ongoing Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and recently participated in a protest in front of the Karachi Press Club.

No information has been provided to the affected families and no criminal case has been registered against the abductors, according to In Defence of Marxism website, which is run by the IMT.

The IMT is an international organisation founded by Ted Grant in 1998. Their members propound leftist ideology and the organisation has its units in various countries, including Pakistan.

The IMT has strongly condemned the Pakistani authorities over the alleged abduction.

The organisation has even put one video clip of the abducted comrades on their website. In the video, they could be seen raising slogans against poverty, unemployment, terrorism and other burning issues.

The leftist international organisation, in its article ' Pakistan: campaign for the release of comrades gaining support!' has claimed that "more than 80 percent of the population has no access to clean drinking water. Similarly, basic health services and education is denied to 85 percent of the population" and said raising voice in support of the downtrodden results in actions like this one.

According to the IMT, support is pouring from locals as well as Pakistani workers living abroad, who are holding protests in front of Pakistani embassies in their respective countries.

In addition to it, Canadian Union of Postal Workers National President Mike Palecek has also written a letter to the Pakistan High Commission in Canada in this regard.

The IMT has vowed to take forward their struggle and get their comrades released.

"Despite the brutality of the Pakistani state, we are determined to carry forward our struggle and get our comrades released. Our final aim is to overthrow the capitalist society through socialist revolution," the article on the website read. (ANI)