RAWALPINDI, May 1: Workers at a May Day rally here on Sunday condemned the government for hike in prices, growing unemployment, increasing poverty and low wages, and demanded “due rights” for the workers. National and local labour unions including the All-Pakistan Workers’ Confederation, All-Pakistan Federation of Labourers, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists and those from Wapda, PTCL, OGDCL, Pakistan Railways, PWD, Attock Refinery, Overseas Pakistanis, United Bank, National Bank, PTV and the Capital Development Authority participated in the rally.

The union leaders accused the government of showing complete apathy to the problems of the common man. They said the continuing price hikes, joblessness and poverty had deprived the working class of an honourable life.

They opposed the government’s privatization policies, saying it had added to unemployment and demanded it be stopped forthwith.

In their speeches at another May Day meeting held at the press club, the union leaders came hard on the government for what they said “listening to the dictates of international financial institutions, like the IMF and the World Bank.” They demanded that the army should cut defence budget and workers be given their rights.

The union leaders also demanded that privatization, downsizing and rightsizing be stopped.

They said the Presidential Ordinance 2000-01 was being misused to fire innocent employees.

Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary-General of the All- Pakistan Federation of Labourers, Zahoor Awan, paid tributes to the Chicago martyrs and stressed on the workers community to get ready for such sacrifices to snatch their rights.

He said the poor gave sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan but now the army and a small number of people had monopolised the whole country and its resources and the poor working class had been totally sidelined.

He said labourers were exploited and discriminated against, adding that the working class should unite against the dictatorial policies” of the government.

President Wapda Labour Union Zafarullah Khan regretted the divisions in the ranks of labourers and the various unions as a result of which their rights were usurped. The army would not be ruling us today were we united, he said.

He demanded that the IMF and World Bank loans be confiscated and their “agents” driven out of the country.

The labour union representatives also demanded early implementation of the 7th Wage Board Award for journalists.

They announced that May 24 would be observed as a protest day against price rise, unemployment, poverty, privatization and other anti-workers policies of the government.

Our Reporter Adds: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif has said the working class holds a very vital position in Pakistan and deserves a place of honour and respect.

In his message on May Day, Mr Sharif said he had tried to resolve the problems of the working class by taking all possible measures, like increasing wages and providing relief in their education.