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| 2 May 2005 | Monday | 22 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426 |
Shun violence, engage in talks, workers urged: Rashid addresses Labour Day meeting
PESHAWAR, May 1: Federal Minister for Information and Media Development Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has asked the labour community to pursue the path of negotiations for problems, instead of resorting to ‘violence’.
He was addressing at a workers’ meeting organized by the All Pakistan Federation of Labour (Durrani group) here on Sunday to mark the International Labour Day.
Mr Ahmed said: “During my political carrier I have learnt that ‘violence’ does not solve any problem and negotiation is a better way to achieve any objective.”
He asked labourers to unite and take the path of talks and negotiations for solving their problems.
On a political note, the minister said none of the religious or political parties had done anything to ameliorate the lot of people of the Frontier province and they used innocent people for their political aims.
He said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal had disappointed the people who had voted it to power as the alliance was not addressing their real problems and often blew non-issues out of proportion to play with emotions of the masses.
Giving an example, he said the issue of religion column in the passport had been exploited by the MMA and added the column did not exist in the passport of other Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia.
“Islam is our religion, identity and way of life but the champions of Islam are not capable of running the affairs of the state”, said Mr Ahmed.
Defending the policy of President Gen Parvez Musharraf to provide logistic support to US for attacking Afghanistan, he said there was no alternative.
The information minister said the next session of parliament was expected to approve licenses for 37 satellite TV channels. The two Pashto language channels were now being watched in Afghanistan also which meant media was reaching out to the people, he said.
Mr Ahmed asked media people to highlight the problems of the working class in the media.
MANSEHRA: The All Employees Coordination Council organized a rally here at the Zaffar Park, to observe the Labour Day, adds our correspondent.
Labour leader Sajjad Hussain Jhagra led workers.
The All Pakistan Clerks Association (Apca), Municipal Employees Union, Labour Union TMA Mansehra and Class-IV Employees’ Union took part in the rally.
A procession was also taken out from the park that marched through various bazaars of the town.
GILGIT: Hundreds of activists belonging to different nationalist and left-wing parties attended a gathering in Karimabad, capital of Hunza valley, on Sunday held in connection with labour day, adds our correspondent.
The meeting expressed its concern over rising inflation, insufficient wages and plight of workers in the region where sectarian conflicts and fewer economic activities had rendered daily wage workers jobless.
Participants in their speeches accused successive governments of encouraging sectarian elements in the region. “Today the sectarian leaders and their outfits have penetrated every section of the society in the region.”
They also urged workers and activists to play their role in restoring peace in the region.
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