September 09, 2007	Sunday	Sha'aban 26, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: The Pakistan Railway Workers Union says trade unionism and the rights of workers in the organisation have been under attack throughout the tenure of the present military regime.Speaking at a press conference at the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club camp office here, union president Ashfaq Elahi, general secretary Fazle Wahid, patron-in-chief Qadir Khan Mandokhel, information secretary Rana Qamar Noshad and executive committee member Aasim Sajjad said workers were being subjected to arbitrary harassment, intimidation and even firing under the new IRO-2002.

They said as the railways fell under the ministry of defence, the arbitrary victimisation was justified under the guise of ‘national interest’.

“Railway employees and particularly trade unionists who are perceived by the administration to be involved in agitation for workers’ rights have been regularly suspended and transferred for exercising their democratic rights,” they added.

They said the so-called railways miracle had been largely on paper.