1978 massacre at Multan Colony Textile Mills

1978 massacre at Multan Colony Textile Mills was one of the most brutal acts of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq when paramilitary forces opened fire on peaceful striking workers which resulted in 200 workers killings and many injured[1].

1978 massacre at Multan Colony Textile Mills
Date 2 January 1978
Location Colony textile mills, Multan
30°08′05″N 71°22′15″E / 30.1346674°N 71.3709328°E / 30.1346674; 71.3709328:
Goals Bonus Payment
Methods Strikes, protest, demonstrations
Lead figures
Mohammad Shafi
Amir Ali
Casualties and arrests
200 deaths
400 wounded
N/A arrests

Background

In 1977, Bhutto regime was overthrown by Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, which unleashed new attacks on working class and Zia era remained darkest period in trade union history of Pakistan[2]. Military dictatorship mercilessly crushed left-wing activists, trade unionists and oppressed layers of society[3]. A wave of carnage of mass killings of workers to genocide of peasants and youth engulfed country[4]. All concepts and aspirations for welfare state were crushed and theocracy was given official sanction[1] Zia successfully implemented industrialists friendly policies which saw forceful imprisoning of workers, ban on trade unions, low wages and contract labour[5]. Under these pro-capitalists policies, nationalised industries were given back to industrialists with hefty compensation and capitalists took revenge from workers in form of brutal repression[3].

Colony Textile Mills was established as textile manufacturing unit in 1946 under Colony group[6]. Colony group was founded by Mohammad Ismaeel[7] and was divided in three groups headed by Farooq A Shaikh, Naseer A Shaikh and Mughis A Shaikh[7]. Colony Textile Mills was headed by Mughees A. Sheikh[8]. It was initially established at Faisalabad but due to competition with Delhi Cloth & General Mills of Sir Shri Ram, it shifted to Multan in 1940s[7]. During 1970s Colony group was among top seven industrialists families among 22 industrialists families who who owned 66% of the total industrial assets, 70% of insurance and 80% of banking.[9] This group also owned shares in newspapers and became active in politics as well. One of its group Naseer A Sheikh was on board of Civil and Military Gazette and Nawa-e-Waqat while Farooq A Sheikh contested elections for the national assembly in 1970[7]. Mughis A Shaikh had good relationships with General Zia since he was Corps Commander in Multan. Due to these relationships mill owner always ignored workers' rights[10].

Events

Strike

In 1978, Colony Textile Mills was one of the most profitable factories in Pakistan[11] and it employed more than 5000 workers[12]. Workers learnt that factory made good profits thus they owe bonus[10]. Because under Labour Policy, 1972 scope of labour laws were extended and workers were entitled to increased profit-sharing and statutory bonus etc[13] Hence workers demanded bonus but owner refused to pay them. This forced Workers' Union to furnish strike notice to management[12]. On morning of 29 December 1977 workers went on complete shutdown of factory through their peaceful strike. According to Jan. 3, 1978 newspaper report;

“Workers were demanding a three months’ bonus along with one month’s recreational allowance.” Mill administration agreed to pay a two months’ bonus, which would be paid at the end of the January, but workers rejected the offer and stopped working on Dec. 29, 1977.[10]

Massacre

On 2 January 1978[11], Mill owner Sheikh's daughter was getting married, the dowry of bride was ten times higher than bonus owed.  Zia ul Haq was specially invited on this occasion,he got unfounded rumor that strikers were going to attack wedding ceremony[14]. He ordered paramilitary forces of the state to shoot workers and crush their movement[14]. A participant of this struggle Lal Khan recounted incident in his book[11];

The paramilitaries started firing directly at the workers who were gathering for a peaceful gate meeting. In a scene of indescribable horror workers screamed and stampeded over the bloodstained corpses of their workmates, crushing many others as they desperately tried to evade the carnage. Blood was everywhere, streaming from the bodies of the workers whose only crime was to ask for their basic rights.

The firing continued uninterrupted for three hours. By six-o'clock in the evening, when darkness had set in, the state forces had 'conquered' the textile mill workers.

In the factory compound and lawns the state forces had prevented the bodies of the injured from being taken to hospital. Those who tried to pick them up were hampered by the police. Dozens had died on the spot. Several injured had died due to excessive loss of blood because they were prevented from being rushed for medical treatment.

In the darkness of the night the state forces, without differentiating between the dead and the injured, brought up trucks and threw the bodies into them. Some were thrown in the huge factory gutter, while others were buried without coffins in the nearby village of Bagasher.

In spite of the terror of this ruthless state, hundreds of workers and students (including the author) kept on taking the injured to the hospitals and tried to save the lives of as many workers as possible.

Later on an effort was made to remove the bodies of the workers from the gutter and place them elsewhere, in order to arrange for their proper burial with their comrades and relatives present.

While official and press reports were that some 13 to 22 people were killed,[10] unofficial estimates put the total number as high as 150-200. Similarly Workers Action Committee estimated 133 killed and more than 400 injured[11].

Aftermath

After this massacre, Workers Action Committee emerged which led mass protest against this incident[11]. This also sparked a nationwide protest and Black day was observed on 9th and 10th January, 1978 across Pakistan by trade unions. Also many prominent politicians like Nusrat Bhutto, Wali Khan, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan and other strongly condemned military regime. Although on 4 January 1978 the Martial Law administrator of Multan[11] ordered inquiry and S.H.O Raja Khizer Hayat and police constable Hakim Ali were arrested and tried in a military court[10]. Compensation of Rs 10,000 was provided to the killed worker's heirs by the owner of the mill.[10] Prominent leader of Workers Action Committee also were arrested and prosecuted[11].

References

  1. 1 2 "Labour: The Unkindest Cut". Newsline. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  2. ↑ "Muzaffargarh police claim busting inter-provincial dacoits gang". Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  3. 1 2 "The scars of July 1977 - Daily Times". Daily Times. 2011-07-02. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  4. ↑ "July 77 Coup: Red Dawn Necessary to End the Tyrannous Night!". Asian Marxist Review. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  5. ↑ "Moving beyond the impasse". Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  6. ↑ "Colony Textile Mills". www.colonytextiles.com. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Rehman, Shahid-Ur (1998). Who owns Pakistan?: fluctuating fortunes of business mughals. S. Rehman.
  8. ↑ "Opposition `being denied` canvassing". DAWN.COM. 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  9. ↑ "Chiniotis mean business! - Profit by Pakistan Today". Profit by Pakistan Today. 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Viewpointonline - Viewpointonline". 2016-11-20. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Khan, Lal (2009). "9. Dictatorship and Democracy – Regimes Changed, the Masses Continue to Suffer". Pakistan's Other Story; The 1968-9 Revolution. India: Aakar Publications. ISBN 978-9350020005.
  12. 1 2 Candland, Assistant Professor Department of Political Science Christopher; Candland, Christopher (2007-12-20). Labor, Democratization and Development in India and Pakistan. Routledge. ISBN 9781134089222.
  13. ↑ "Labour policies: a critical review". DAWN.COM. 2002-10-07. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  14. 1 2 Jaffrelot, Christophe (2016-06-16). The Pakistan Paradox: Instability And Resilience. Random House India. ISBN 9788184007077.
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