27 October 2004	Wednesday	12 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Oct 26: The anti-worker IRO-2002, imposed by the regime two years ago, brought a large number of political and trade union activists on the road on Tuesday, who were protesting against the law.

Pakistan People's Party's (labour wing) staged a protest rally outside the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday and rejected anti-worker policies of the government, including the IRO 2002.

The protest rally was part of the countrywide black day observed by workers. Here People's Labour Bureau was joined by its allied trade unions, PML(N) National Labour Federation, Railway workers Federation, Pakistan National Federation of Trade Unions, PSF, People's Youth, PILER and other organizations.

In her message, PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto maintained that "it was on this day two years ago when the military rulers imposed the anti-labour IRO 2002 and deprived the workers of their rights guaranteed under the constitution and international conventions and standards."

The message was read out by the general secretary of People's Labour Bureau (Karachi chapter) Shaikh Majeed.

Ms Bhutto said that the IRO-2002 was a black law because it had not only deprived the labourers of the benefits under the scheme of Employees Old-Age Scheme but also in a full bench judgment of the Supreme Court. Its promulgation soon after the general elections also showed the military rulers' disrespect to the elected parliament.

Addressing the rally, President of the Peoples Labour Bureau, Habibuddin Junedi vowed to continue the struggle against draconian laws until they were repealed and true democracy was restored in the country.

PPP Karachi chapter President Rashid Rabbani deplored that the government policies had seriously undermined industrial base of the country.

PML(N)'s Khawaja Tariq Nazir said that the ARD and his own party would extend solidarity to workers in their struggle.

National Labour Federation's Karachi chapter's chief Rafiq Ahmed also deplored IRO-2002 and vowed to continue struggle.

The rally demanded that privatization be stopped and the so-called process of accountability be brought to an end. They demanded release of Asif Zardari, Javed Hashmi, Yusuf Raza Gilani and other political prisoners.