KARACHI, April 13: Prominent figures and labour leaders have demanded abolition of Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO) 2002 and a worker-friendly law in its place. Speaking at a ceremony, held under the auspices of Personnel Foundation, for the launching of a book, Law of Industrial Relations in Pakistan, by Shahid Anwer Bajwa, advocate, they said that the law must be drafted after consulting representatives of the employees and employers.

Justice Wajeehuddin Ahmed, a former judge of the Supreme Court, observed that there was no need to introduce the IRO-2002 and opined that the government, instead, could have reviewed, reformed and made a few amendments to the already in force IRO-1969.

A senior labour leader, S. P. Lodhi, demanded an immediate withdrawal of the IRO-2002.