Rabbani denounces ‘ban’ on unions in power sector

ISLAMABAD: Condemning the ban on unions in the power sector, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said that the imposition of the Essential Service (Maintenance) Act, 1952, is an anti-labour step aimed at crushing the working classes.

He added privatization is beyond the mandate of the caretaker government, under section 230, The Election Act, and the Constitution, 1973.

“This decision of the Caretaker Government is a violation of the Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Constitution, 1973,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Senator Mian Raza Rabbani opined that this step has been taken to facilitate the handing over of the power sector to big business.

The former chairman Senate said the caretaker government proposes the induction of the private sector for disinvestment and management contracts, therefore, it is necessary to mute the voice of the labour unions, so that the private sector has a free hand.

Senator Raza Rabbani said the caretaker government, has banned unions in a very large sector, which encompasses all public sector power companies, including generation, distribution and sale of electricity.