KARACHI, Oct 6: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Wednesday will take up the issues of ban on trade union activities and the IRO 2002 in the national and provincial assemblies and the Senate, and continue its struggle for labourers' rights.

This was stated by the PPP Deputy Secretary General, Senator Raza Rabbani, and President PPP Sindh Qaim Ali Shah while addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday. Other PPP leaders including MPA Makhdoom Jamil-uz-Zaman, Prof N.D. Khan and Rashid Rabbani were also present.

Honorary president of All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) Zulfiqar Ali Qaimkhani along with his supporters announced to join the PPP in its political struggle on the occasion.

Senator Rabbani criticized the present government, especially Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's "anti-labourer" policies, saying despite the tall claims about the economy, millions of labourers were retrenched in the garb of rightsizing and downsizing from government and semi-government organizations.

"Shaukat Aziz's anti-people policies, which are being prepared on the IMF and World Bank's directives, have added to the miseries of the lower middle class and poor segments of society," he alleged, adding that the IRO 2002 was another blow to the labourer class.

He said the PPP believed in practical struggle for the rights of labourers and the oppressed segments of society, adding it had moved several bills and resolutions in the national and provincial assemblies and the Senate against such arbitrary laws.

Demanding the government to immediately lift the ban imposed on trade union activities, he claimed that even the International Labour Organization had suggested the government of Pakistan to allow trade union activities in the PIA and other national industrial engineering complexes, concerns and organizations.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah deplored that on one hand, the government was increasing joblessness in the garb of downsizing while on the other, retired military officials were being hired in public departments.

He claimed that Senator Rabbani was the actual opposition leader in the Senate, who was struggling for the rights of labourers, as he had submitted a bill for amendments in the IRO 2002.

Mr Shah said that after coming into power for the third time, the PPP would reinstate all employees who had been sacked by the present and previous government, as it believed in providing employment to all citizens.

Earlier, honorary president of the APCA, Zulfiqar Qaimkhani, said the PPP was the only political force struggling for the rights of labourers, and announced joining the party along with his companions. - PPI