Over 600 workers were forcibly dismissed from Bahria Town company without three months’ compensation. Bahria Town is the country’s largest real estate company. All dismissed workers’ homes relied on their monthly salaries. One worker said, “I bought a home appliance on installment; now I can’t pay.” Another stated, “I’m the sole breadwinner; without my salary, our food will run out.” Many workers were local, some Pashtun, and most from interior Sindh. They were dumped on the highway like animals in Bahria Town vehicles without notice. Most lacked fare to return home, forced to sell phones or essentials for travel money.
After dismissal, local workers called a meeting. About 40 attended, unanimously deciding to hold a protest rally on August 19 from Madina Hotel to Bahria Town Karachi’s gate, inviting all workers.
The night before, workers sought rally permission from Gadap Police Station. The Station Police Officer (SHO) refused and threatened FIRs (police cases) for protesting against Bahria Town’s owner.
Afterwards, workers approached Kathore’s Member of the Provincial Parliament Assembly (MPA) to complain and seek rally assurance. He spoke threateningly like police, lamenting the loss of Bahria Town owner’s profit. He said, “Don’t do politics; it’s our job. We’re doing it; our sons will.” As if politics was his hereditary estate.
On the 19th, around thirty police mobiles patrolled from Madina Hotel to Bahria Town Karachi’s gate, not for worker protection but as Malik Riaz’s (owner of Bahria Town company) guards. Before the protest, police arrested workers, including Waheed, Anand, Rajesh, and Dilip.
Then, Anees Raza and four companions were arrested and brought to the police station. Finally, Jansheer, leading the protest, was arrested with ten other workers. Police were so flustered they even detained a hotel worker. In total, 19 were locked up and constantly threatened with FIRs (police cases) to intimidate them.
All arrested workers are high-spirited. Instead of fearing police threats, they stood up for their rights. It’s a harsh lesson for this state and its agents that jails are no longer being feared.
After seven hours in lockup, the Station Police officer (SHO) came saying, “You can protest anywhere in the world but not within three kilometers of Bahria Town.” Finally, police released all comrades after seven hours, making them sign a pledge. But we ask, why are institutions living on workers’ taxes threatening workers and becoming Malik Riaz and Zardari’s lapdogs? Is Bahria Town on Mars that we can’t protest against it?
Institutions funded by workers’ taxes like Police are threatening workers and engaging in corrupt practices.
PTUS condemns police brutality. We believe workers shouldn’t back down from these tactics but prepare again with a plan of action for their rights struggle. They must appeal to other institutions’ workers and youth to join this fight. Currently, workers dismissed from Yunus Textile Mills and Lucky Cement Factory face similar issues, so Bahria Town’s dismissed workers and these institutions’ workers must unite for a common struggle to solve their problems.
Long live worker unity!
