January 16, 2026
By Shaukat Korai
KARACHI
Human rights defenders, labour parties and groups and other rights activists are in a furore over their comrade Iqbal Abro’s arrest. Abro, a prominent leader of the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) went missing from Karachi on January 9. Four days later, police presented him before the court, where a case was registered against him under terrorism charges for allegedly extorting money from factory owners.
Extortion case after illegal detention
The case was filed on the complaint of Muhammad Asghar, security in-charge of a private factory. In court, police took the position that Iqbal Abro extorts money from factory owners and threatens them, which is why a case has been registered against him under terrorism provisions and he should be remanded to police custody for investigation.
The court expressed surprise at the police’s position, but granted the remand request and placed Iqbal Abro in police custody for three days. He is to be presented in court again on January 16.
Court to decide legality of case: Prosecutor General
In this context, the Sindh Prosecutor General Muntazir Mehdi has said that the court will decide in light of the evidence, ‘whether the case is right or wrong’.
“Police register cases but when there is no evidence, the accused are acquitted. The acquittal rate is higher in such cases,” he said. “According to the law, the benefit of doubt goes to the accused, which is why accused persons are often acquitted by courts. However, the acquittal rate has now decreased because new investigating officers have arrived and they have received training.”
Case lodged at behest of factory owner
Abro’s brother said that his brother is a trade union leader who has been struggling for workers’ rights.
“At the behest of factory owners in Korangi, police called him to the station for talks and then arrested him. He was kept in the station for four days without registering a case. He was presented in court on the afternoon of the fourth day. Before this, police were denying his arrest.”
Abro was tortured in police custody: NTUF
Meanwhile Nasir Mansoor, General Secretary of the National Trade Union Federation, said that Abro had been tortured in custody.
“Iqbal Abro is a labor leader. The factory management had dismissed a worker named Shahzad from his job without reason, against which Iqbal Abro was resisting. That is why police arrested him at the factory management’s behest, and he was also tortured after arrest.”
Zahra Khan, a leader of the Home Based Women Workers Federation Pakistan, stated: “Under labor laws, raising our voice for workers’ rights is our legal right. The police have no authority to interfere in the legal rights of workers. Iqbal Abro is a leader of the National Federation and the federation is legally registered. According to the law, they can struggle for workers’ rights.”
Labor organizations staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club for Iqbal Abro’s recovery.
HRCP condemnation
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed deep concern over the registration of a case against Iqbal Abro under terrorism provisions. According to HRCP, police initially denied his arrest. The unjustified arrest of any citizen and making them disappear is contrary to state laws made for the protection of their freedom and life.
The Human Rights Commission believes that this action by the police is tantamount to suppressing the voice for labor rights, which is unconstitutional. HRCP has demanded the immediate release of Iqbal Abro and bringing all civil and government officials involved in his arrest and torture to justice.