KARACHI, Nov 23: Many corrupt elements are involved in the government’s privatisation process, which is causing huge financial losses to the national exchequer, and a major example in this regard is the privatisation of Pakistan Steel.

“Those organisations, which had been privatised two to three years ago, have produced no positive results and are still running in losses. The performance of these organisations has decreased since their privatisation”, said National Labour Federation of Pakistan (NLF) President Rafiq Ahmed. He was addressing a press conference on Friday at the Karachi Press Club.

The NLF chief was of the view that 80 per cent of the government workers’ fund was being used by the departments concerned and only 20 per cent was reaching the workers, which, he said, had severely disturbed the welfare of workers while their children were being deprived of education and health facilities.

He condemned the alleged killing of a textile mill worker, Sajid Mehmood, who he claimed “Was killed due to his efforts to form a labour union. His body was found from the water tank of the factory, and the administration of the factory declared it a suicide. But his family claimed he was killed by the factory administration due to his demands and efforts for labourers’ rights.”

He added that private organisations were discouraging labour unions, and workers were being sacked through the so-called ‘golden handshake’ schemes. He urged the government to end the privatisation process, which, he said, was the main cause of increasing poverty and unemployment in the country, amend the IRO 2002 ordinance, lift the ban on labour unions in private and public organisations and to control the prices of essential commodities.

He also urged the government to lift the emergency, restore the 1973 constitution, release all the arrested and detained journalists, lawyers and labour leaders, reinstate the deposed judges and lift the curbs on the media.

“We condemn the imposition of martial law in the name of emergency rule. In fact, it is an attack on the fundamental rights of the people and the judiciary. We also condemn the curbs on the media,” he said.

He slammed the government for launching military operations in Swat, Waziristan, Balochistan and the other parts of the country and alleged that President Musharraf was following an American agenda, which was badly damaging the country.