Labour Day: Rabbani calls for taking parliament into confidence on IMF conditions.

KARACHI -- Former Senate Chairman Senator Mian Raza Rabbani on Wednesday asked the government to take the parliament and people of Pakistan into confidence on conditionalities of the agreement with International Monetary Fund (IMF), otherwise people will reject that agreement.

He was speaking at a joint function of various trade unions and labour supporting organization on May Day, organized by Sahafi Mazdoor Action Committee at Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.

He said there are reports that the government has agreed to provide sensitive information to IMF including the information regarding China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Even Pakistan's sovereignty is compromised to IMF, he added.

Senator Rabbani asked the workers to be united and for this purpose he suggested to hold a national level trade unions unity convention to chalk out future line of action for workers rights.

He said the usurper forces in Pakistan had always weakened people's movement in the past. "They banned the students unions and trade unions and under a pre-conceived plan crushed the workers and students movements."

Rabbani expressed his serious concern on curbs on media. Even during the era of dictatorship we did not see such restrictions on freedom of expression, he remarked.

Those journalists who do not bow before the restrictions are made missing persons. He recalled that during Martial Law regime of General Ziaul Haq, newspapers used to leave a blank space in case a news item was forced to be removed, but now the news are killed through a phone call. He paid salute to the journalists who have still not left the voice of truth.

He said he has always supported the working journalists in their struggle for rights and wages. Pakistan's parliament and democratic forces are still standing with the cause of journalists.

Mian Rabbani said workers are facing problems in K-Electric since its privatization. He called upon the workers to be united. He said Pakistan's elite and capitalist are united in teaching lessons to the workers.

Former President of Supreme Court Bar Association Justice (retd.) Rasheed A. Razvi, who presided over the function appreciated the efforts of Senator Raza Rabbani for passing pro-labour legislation in the upper house.

He said the situation in labour courts is very disappointing where workers are not getting timely justice. Razvi said the trade union activities are declining with the passage of time due to the government policies. The main...