KARACHI, Feb 6: Expressing solidarity with the trade unions on the issue of Industrial Relations Ordinance-2002, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) has demanded its immediate withdrawal.

Speaking at a reception, organized for the labour leaders on Tuesday, the PML (N) chief, Javed Hashmi, said as the IRO-2002 was against the interests of workers, his party had rejected it and would support all efforts made inside the parliament and outside on streets so that it could be revoked.

He urged the political parties, labour unions, civil society organizations and masses, in general, to join hands so that a joint struggle for restoration of democracy, sovereignty of the parliament could be launched.

Earlier, trade union leader S. P. Lodhi said the IRO 2002 was not only in conflict with basic rights guaranteed in the Constitution, it was also in violation of various conventions of the International Labour Organization, the country had signed and was morally bound to follow.

He said that workers have decided not to accept this anti- worker law which has taken away rights from workers that were given to them even by the English rulers during the pre- partition era.

Other labour leaders Mohammad Sharif, Haji M. Younus, M. A. K. Azmati, Shaikh Majeed, Malak Mohammad Rafiq, and PML (N) leaders Mamnoon Hussain, Mushahidullah Khan, Imdad Chandio, Nasiruddin Mehmood, and other also spoke.