ISLAMABAD, June 29: Former federal minister J. Salik has slammed the government for violating all norms of international labour laws by providing only Rs1,700 per month to minority sanitary workers who worked for 10 hours daily. He was speaking at a press conference at his residence on Wednesday. Mr Salik has been sitting on ash for the last seven days with his head shaven to highlight the woes of the minorities in Pakistan.

He said Christian children who worked as sanitary workers were paid only Rs1,200 to Rs1,500 per month while their elders were paid Rs1,700 which was against the labour laws.

He said the government took work from these sweepers and sanitary workers during Eid holidays while the rest of the countrymen observed holidays. He said he had taken up the issue even with religious leaders like Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and Israr Ahmed of Tehrik-i- Khilafat, but to no avail.

He said even the yellow uniform of the sanitary workers was a symbol of hatred and must be changed.

Mr Salik said the National Assembly seats had been raised from 207 to 335 while women seats were increased from 15 to 60, but the number of minority seats still remain at 10.

No increase had been made in the minority seats for the past 30 years, he said. He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had not even reserved a single day in the entire year to listen to the grievances of the minorities.