Pakistan Peoples’ Party declares Finance Bill illegal

Pakistani Peoples' Party MP and president of the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign Manzoor Ahmed has challenged the Pakistani government's finance bill presented in the 2006-2007 budget.

 In a press conference held in Islamabad on September 25, Manzoor Ahmed declared the 11 amendments made to the labor laws by the present government unconstitutional and illegal. He vowed to challenge the ammendments in the four High Courts of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP).

During the press conference he was accompanied by several labor leaders, as well as MP Nayyer Hussain Bukhari and barrister Zafarullah who will take up this case in the high courts.

Explaining the details of the petition Manzoor Ahmed said that he took the step of challenging the amendments after consulting various labor organizations and trade unions in Pakistan. The government responded through the Law, Justice and Human Rights Division secretary, the Finance Secretary and National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain.

Manzoor Ahmed challenged the speaker of the National Assembly for violating the constitution and breaching his authority by approving the finance bill.

Earlier this year in June the government of Pakistan presented a finance bill in which the working hours were increased from 8 hours a day to 12 hours a day. Moreover, special amendments were made which mean that women would work longer hours for less pay. This draconian bill was condemned by the working class in Pakistan but due to the dictatorial regime here and the political maneuvering of the government, the regime was able to get this bill passed.

The Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign is continuously working against the repressive measures of the state. Following the path of the martyrs of Chicago it is continuing its struggle for the emancipation of the working class which is possible only through a socialist revolution.