KARACHI, March 20: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemning the Sindh government’s suggestion to impose a ban on trade union activities has demanded that the government should refrain from taking such anti-worker steps which could create unrest among the poor people.

In a statement issued on Monday, HRCP secretary general Iqbal Haider said that ban on trade unions was not only the violation of Article 17 of the Constitution, which guarantees and protects citizens’ right to freedom of association, but was against all the international charters of human rights.

He said that the ban on trade unions was also against the International Labour Organization’s conventions that had been signed by the country and it was bound to ensure that the country’s international commitments were not breached.

He said that the government had already violated fundamental rights of the working classes by prohibiting trade union activities in various organizations such as PIA, Shipyard, KESC, etc.

HRCP official said that if the government pursued these despicable and nefarious aims and designs, it would not only reflect its anti-labour and inhuman policies but would also result in further unrest among the poor and protests, agitations and demonstrations which would only inevitably harm the economic activities in the country.

He called upon the government to refrain from imposition of such bans and instead it should ensure protection of rights and interests of the working classes and should follow and abide by the constitutions, international charters of human rights, ILO conventions and local laws.