Karachi: The National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) recently held a seminar to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the June 1972 workers' massacre in Karachi's SITE industrial area and to discuss the autobiography of veteran labour leader Comrade Usman Baloch. The event brought together a diverse group of trade unionists, labour activists, academics, human rights defenders, students, and representatives of democratic and progressive organizations.
According to Home-Based Women Workers Federation, the seminar's attendees paid tribute to the textile workers who lost their lives on June 7 and 8, 1972, while advocating for their rights and dignity. They also saluted Comrade Usman Baloch, a prominent figure in Pakistan's working-class movement. The speakers included Dr. Tauseef Ahmed, Asad Iqbal Butt of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Nasir Mansoor of NTUF, Comrade Wahid Baloch, and Comrade Zehra Khan, alongside other labour leaders and intellectuals.
The speakers highlighted that Comrade Usman Baloch's autobiography, "Apni Karni Kar Guzray," serves as a vital historical document detailing decades of working-class resistance, trade union struggles, state repression, and the aspirations of ordinary workers. The book is regarded as a significant contribution to preserving the history of Pakistan's labour movement.
The seminar revisited the events leading to the June 1972 massacre, a pivotal moment in Pakistan's labour history. It was noted that the workers' movement played a crucial role in opposing military dictatorship and influencing political changes. However, their hopes for justice were met with severe repression when state forces opened fire on protesting workers. The eyewitness accounts shared by Athar Hassan and Syed Abid Hassan detailed the police brutality experienced by workers during those fateful days.
Speakers observed that the autobiography captures the courage and determination of workers who challenged injustice despite facing severe repression. They discussed the broader context of labour resistance from the 1968-69 anti-dictatorship uprising to the subsequent wave of militancy. It was emphasized that the challenges faced by workers in 1972, such as low wages, insecure employment, and attacks on trade union rights, continue to persist today.
The seminar concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to the struggle for workers' rights and social justice. They paid tribute to the martyrs of June 1972 and pledged to continue their legacy. The event also marked the inauguration of the "Saeeda Khatoon Memorial Hall," in memory of the late leader of the Baldia factory fire victims' movement. Participants expressed solidarity with current movements, condemning recent actions against activists and organizations.
The seminar underscored the enduring relevance of the 1972 labour struggles for contemporary movements and emphasized the need for a unified and independent workers' movement to achieve meaningful social change.