KARACHI: Political parties in the country would not be allowed “to exploit” trade union movement for political purposes; this declaration was made at a convention of the All-Pakistan Labour Council at a hotel in Karachi yesterday [Aug 20].

… The participating organisations included All-Pakistan Confederation of Labour, Pakistan National Federation of Trade Unions, National Federation of Labour, All-Pakistan Central Trade Unions and Pakistan Labour Organi­sa­tion, Lahore. Central Minister for Labour, Health, Social Welfare and Family Planning, Dr A.M. Malik, who is also the President of the All-Pakistan Confederation of Labour … did not speak.

The speakers were unanimous that the trade union movement should not be made “a platform” for political parties and political leaders “to ex­­ploit” it for their own ends. Addressing the convention, President of Pakistan National Federa­tion of Trade Unions, Mr M. Sharif, said the Council was set up last month after the failure of the three-day tripartite labour conference in Islamabad. The purpose was to forge unity among the workers of the country to save them from “exploitation” by political parties. — Agency

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2020