The Asia Europe People’s Forum is saddened by the passing on 20th June, of Karamat Ali executive director Pakistan Institute of Education and Research (PIlER). Karamat was a tireless advocate for the rights of labour, working classes, women and other oppressed communities.

This is a big loss for the labour movement of Pakistan and South Asia. Karamat was a dedicated working class leader, who was deeply immersed with all progressive causes—from the trade Union movement in Karachi, fishermen’s rights, social justice and democratic movements to peace in the subcontinent, and more. An imaginative and undogmatic Marxist, Karamat never shied away from challenging tasks and as a consequence faced many atrocities and prison terms. Karamat is an unsung hero of our times.

Karamat was an organic intellectual and committed democrat. He built PILER which attracted many renowned economists and academics because of his charisma and commitment to the cause of the Labour movement based on relevant research.
Karamat sought to change the economic system for the betterment of the poor. He worked for alternative ideas to build a peaceful and just society

Karamat Ali was from a working-class family, born in the city of Multan(Punjab), two years before the Partition (1945). His father worked as a department worker. Karamat himself worked in a factory and attended the Government Emerson College in Multan in 1962. At that time, a group of 12 activists of the National Students Federation (NSF), were expelled from Karachi by the then Ayub Khan military regime because of their political activities. Karamat mobilised students at this time. When Ayub Khan kicked out Zulfikar Ali Bhutto from the position of foreign minister, Karamat with his student comrades invited him to speak at a public forum with student activists.

Karamat Ali was a civil society institution builder. He was the founder of the People’s SAARC and South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication. He was founding member of the Pakistan Peace Coalition, Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy,
and South Asia Labour Forum. Karamat was a real South Asian who consistently advocated unity among South Asian nations, opposed militarisation and imperialism.

Karamat was a major organizer of the World Social Forum 2006 in Karachi. He invited hundreds of Indian activists to Pakistan to forge people to people contacts.

He was to attend and speak at the AEPF Ghent event but his health deteriorated and he could not come.

Karamat did his master in labour studies at the Institute of Social Studies at Den Haag. Karamat. Married an Indian academic Amrita Chachi. Karamat had son and two daughters.

With the passing away of Karamat Ali we have lost one of best trade union leaders of South Asia. AEPF mourns his loss and at the same time we celebrate his life and achievements.

Farooq Tariq
Asia coordinator
Asia Europe People’s Forum