Lateef Mughal: Veteran trade unionist and activist dies

By Shabeer Ahmed

Senior member of Pakistan Peoples Party and indefatigable labor rights activist, Lateef Mughal, passed away today after prolonged illness. He was 58.

Affiliated with the PPP since youth and at the time of his death a member of the party’s Sindh media cell at the Bilawal House, Mughal was eulogized for his struggle from Zardari to Civil Society Organization members. He underwent imprisonment, torture but steadfastly struggled for what he believed in: for labor rights and for restoration and strengthening of democracy.

He served as political secretary with the PPP’s then provincial president, Qaim Ali Shah, from 1987 to 1994. From 2008 to 2010 he was the information secretary for the PPP’s Karachi section. After that he served as the party’s Karachi spokesman until Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza’s appointment as PPP Karachi information secretary.

Researcher and author Aslam Khwaja said Mughal was a dedicated political worker who came from working-class background and always stood for the people’s rights – political, labour or peace. “He was a towering political worker in this time of depoliticized society. He will be missed in the fight against intolerance.”

In a statement issued by the party, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Mughal’s death was not only a great loss to the party but to the civil society as well because he worked closely with three generations of the PPP leadership with commitment and loyalty.



Mughal continuously participated in trade union activities since 1987 and was vice-president of the Peoples Labour Federation Pakistan, chief patron of the Peoples Workers Ittehad Union of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation and member of the Sindh government’s Labour Task Force.

“We have lost a key rights defender,” said Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Vice-Chairman Asad Iqbal Butt. “Mughal was a man who was working for [the people’s] rights in the country.” Piler’s Executive Director, Karamat Ali, and others paid rich tributes to Mughal, who was central leader of the Peoples Labour Bureau and an active member of the Sindh Labour Solidarity Committee.

The deceased labour leader has left behind six children, including two sons and four daughters. His funeral prayers will be held on Tuesday at Pakola Mosque near Garden.

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