ISLAMABAD, April 30: Former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif on Sunday pledged to protect workers rights. In their separate messages on May Day they criticised the policies of the ‘military regime’ regarding the working class.

The Chairperson, Pakistan People’s Party, Ms Benazir Bhutto has called for repeal of ‘anti-labour’ laws.

In her message, she urged all the political forces to join hands with the PPP in undertaking a parliamentary review of the labour related legislation by the military regime that had usurped basic rights of the workers.

She said the military regime had introduced anti-labour legislation such as the IRO 2002, which was also given protection in what she said the infamous 17th constitutional amendment. “This anti-labour legislation needed to be reviewed by the parliament so as to restore the rights of workers,” she added.

She expressed solidarity with the working class and said that the Party would not abandon the labour, the peasants, the fisher folk, the government servants and the wage earners in their struggle for emancipation and freeing themselves from the shackles of exploitation. She said nothing can deter the PPP from standing shoulder to shoulder with the workers of the country and fight for their rights.

The former Prime Minister said that the PPP was committed to the welfare of the working class and would continue to work for the welfare of the workers and labourers.

The PPP had always derived its strength from the working class of Pakistan and it had always fought for their rights and would continue to do so in the future as well, she said.

Quaid of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif has said his party was committed to protecting rights of the labour, giving them good working conditions, providing them protection from exploitation and extending them opportunities of personal development and well being.

In his May Day message, he lamented that labour class had become worst victim of present government’s economic policies in the last six years, as for majority of nation the quality of life has deteriorated due to price hike, unemployment and lawlessness.

He said his party remained committed to promoting a harmonious relationship between labour, employers and government, working hand in hand to make Pakistan a prosperous and strong nation through improved quality and productivity.