KARACHI, Oct 19: Speakers at a conference urged the political and religious parties not to give call for strikes at a time when the country was passing through a difficult period.

Speaking at the All Pakistan Mazdoor Federations Conference, organized by the National Labour Federation, late on Thursday night, they said that due to the frequent strikes the economy of the country suffered as much loss as it would suffer due to a one-day war.

They urged the political and religious groups that instead of giving call for strikes they should mount pressure on the government so that it withdrew its support of the United States.

The speakers also expressed concern over the handing over of various air bases — Pasni, Jacobabad etc — to the United States, which was bombing on Afghanistan, resulting in the massive killing of innocent civilian, particularly women and children.

One of the speakers criticized the government’s policy of supporting the United States and demanded that it should review its policy and express solidarity with the Afghan brethren.

The speakers said that the United States was using Osama bin Laden and the Taliban as an excuse while its real agenda was to extend control over the hydrocarbon resources of Central Asian countries.

Mohammad Sharif of Pakistan National Federation of Trade Unions, S. P. Lodhi of All Pakistan Trade Unions Organization, Khalilur Rehman of All Pakistan Federation of Labour, NLF chief Mohammad Islam, Salim Raza of National Federation of Trade Unions, Shaukat Ali of All Pakistan Trade Unions Congress, Mohammad Mursaleen of Mohajir Qaumi Movement Labour Division, and others spoke on the occasion.