Cruel policies of the rulers have turns the name of Mall Road to Hartal Road: PML-Q Punjab

Lahore: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Punjab General Secretary and former Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Ch Zaheeruddin Khan has said that due to anti-workers policies of the govt, people belonging to all walks of life including traders, workers, farmers, clerks, doctors, para-medical staff and nurses are protesting today on the Mall Road against the govt, if people and the workers had got their rights then the Mall Road would not become the “Hartal Road” now.

He expressed these views while addressing PML Labour Wing Punjab Convention in connection with the Workers International Day at the Muslim League House here today.

He said we have today gathered here today to pay homage to the Chicago who offered great services for the service structure on May 1, 1886, this struggle for the workers is continuing even today. He said workers are 95 per cent in majority in Pakistan, this country belongs to the workers. He said tenure of Ch Parvez Elahi was the period for progress and prosperity of the workers during which labour colonies were established for residential facilities of the workers, social security hospital was upgraded, he (Ch Parvez Elahi) showed due respect to people hailing from all schools of thoughts including doctors, clerks, workers.

Ch Zaheeruddin said that Peoples Party has been merged into N-League, we will secure the rights of the workers by contesting local bodies elections along with the allies parties, we are the real opposition, local bodies elections have not been held for the last seven years, workers are fully represented in the local bodies elections, we will secure big majority in the local bodies by contesting these along with the allies parties.

He said the nation has great hopes and expectations from the Judicial Commission constituted on the demand of the Muslim League, Pakistan Awami Tehrik and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf for probing election rigging allegations. He paid glowing tributes to the army for launching Zarb-e-Azab operation against terrorism and said this had helped in creating an atmosphere of peace in the country.

In the Convention, Mian Munir, Sajjad Baloch, Arshad Bokhari, Khadeeja Farooqui, Rana Hafeez and Riasat Khokhar presented resolutions.

Addressing the gathering Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that all the reforms introduced for the welfare and well-being of the people during PML tenure have been scrapped by the present govt. He said during the tenure of Ch Parvez Elahi, dowry was provided for all daughters of a worker and free medicines were also provided to the workers in the hospitals, present govt not only snatched loaf of bread from the mouth of the workers but also deprived their children of medical treatment. He said load shedding for 12 hours in the cities and for 12 hours in villages was continuing because of which the factories were shut and workers facing unemployment.

He said that60 lakhs tons wheat was being destroyed in the go downs whereas import of 490lakh tons of wheat was allowed from abroad, these decisions of theirs would ruin the farmers, because of the govt measure all segments of the society including the blinds were staging protest on the roads and the govt was insulting the humanity by lathi charging them. He said because of metro bus project not even half number of buses are plying on the roads due to which the workers are worried and unemployed. He said metro bus was running in loss and a subsidy of Rs 1. 27 billion was being paid every month on metro bus, the govt was meeting this loss itself due to personal interest adding that orange line train project was the project of Ch Parvez Elahi. He said that we have to continue struggle together and Insha-Allah we will return to power again with the support of the people and end dearness and load shedding and re-start again all the stopped projects.

Speaking on the occasion PML Punjab Information Secretary Mian Imran Masood said that the tenure of Ch Parvez Elahi was historical one, World Bank also mentions that tenure often in its reports. He said the present govt has given no mega projects which has benefitted the people on grass root level. He said those who staged drama of using hand fans under shadows of Minar-e-Pakistan to protest against worst load shedding were taking no practical steps for ending worst load shedding now, not a single unit of power has been additionally generated during their tenure, against their claims of breaking the begging bowl and sending foreign aid they have only increased the size of the begging bowl, all schemes of their tenure like Sasti Roti, yellow cabs, green tractors schemes all have been eaten away by corruption and people were not benefitted at all, metro bus deficit has reached the level of Rs 1. 25 billion while Daanish School deficit has cross Rs one billion mark.

Mian Imran Masood further said that we have great role in 42 billion projects including economic corridor with China, for closer contacts between Pakistan and China PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed has been given the biggest friendship award of China which clearly shows trust of China in the PML policies.

Presenting the welcome address PML Youth Wing Central President Syed Bilal Mustafa Sheerazi said that Muslim League observes the Labour Day for protection of the workers’ rights and to express solidarity with the workers. He said the process of privatization should immediately be stopped, profit making institutions privatization amounted to exploitation of the workers, process of privation was like hanging sword of unemployment over the heads of workers because of which the workers a community is much worried and disappointed about their future, privation process of profit making institutions should immediately be stopped and workers employment given protection.

Central President Muslim League Labour Wing Syed Faqir Hussain Bokhari said that the Muslim League Labour Wing had taken part in the in the elections of the unions of major institutions like PIA and Railways and secured great successes. He said the workers had not got the rights which they should have got, contrary to all tall claims of the present govt the services rendered by Ch Parvez Elahi during his tenure were unforgettable. He said the much laudable achievements of Ch Parvez Elahi were social security hospital, model school, labour colonies, free education up to matric, 1122 rescue service. He said we have to strengthen his hands and bring him into power again so that works for the welfare and well-being of the people including the workers could be restarted again.