Members of Pakistan Workers Confederation are holding a rally to present tribute to martyrs of Chicago on the Universal Labourer Day. PHOTO: PPI
International Labour Day was celebrated across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa -- the only day in the year when the woes of workers become a centre of attention. In the provincial capital, rallies were held by various organisations to discuss, appreciate and slam various labour-related topics. But it was the city’s traffic police which made the day memorable for those who wear down the streets of Peshawar.
Mean streets of Peshawar
In a gesture of goodwill, the traffic police decided to express solidarity with the working class on Sunday by not fining or and issuing challans (penalty receipts) to erring motorists, bikers, bus, coach, taxis and rickshaw drivers and even pushcart vendors.
Taking on the spirit of teachers, traffic cops could be seen guiding and apprising people about traffic rules. SSP Sadiq Baloch told the media, “In solidarity, with the labourers of Peshawar, we took the initiative not to fine poor drivers who violated traffic rules.” Baloch added, “We also reduced fines on the directive of IGP Nasir Khan Durrani; now we only charge Rs200 to 600 as compared to Rs5 to 10,000 previously.”
A freebie
The streets of Peshawar were dedicated to drivers from 9am, when traffic wardens begin their day, till 9:30pm, sans any penalties or fines. Drivers seemed really surprised when traffic wardens did not fine them. Instead they briefed the drivers calmly.
“Thank god there is someone who is thinking about us. I never thought they would not charge me for driving in the wrong direction because of Labour Day,” said Alam Khan, an elated rickshaw driver.
Mohammad Barkat, a bus driver, said, “I did not even know about Labour Day—no one ever told me—but now with [the kindness of the police] I have come to know this is my day.”
He added, “I work for daily wages to feed my family and it would be a bad day if I had to pay a fine with money I earn with great effort.”
Rage against the machine
A rally was organised at Bacha Khan Chowk near Hashtnagri on Sunday to commemorate International Labour Day, led by Communication & Works Parliamentary Secretary Arif Yousaf. The participants remembered workers killed at a protest in Haymarket Square in Chicago on May 4, 1886.
Addressing the gathering, Yousaf said PTI was striving for the rights of labourers and had passed various laws including those against bonded and child labour. In other events, workers of Wapda Hydro Union held a sit-in in front of Governor House against Wapda’s reported privatisation. Employees of various non-government organisations (NGO) met at the office of Mazdoor Kissan Party in Qissa Khwani Bazaar to discuss their problems and a committee was formed to establish a union.
Swabi, Charsadda
A well-attended convention was held in Swabi, followed by a rally at Aman Chowk. The rally was led by Tehsil Municipal Administration, Pakistan Workers Federation Swabi, tehsil nazim Wahid Shah and others.
A ceremony was held at the local office of Gandhara Organisation and Development in Charsadda. The chairperson, Sajjad Haider, said the government needs to initiate projects and schemes for labourers who should be given equal rights.
Jamrud
Teachers protested for promotions in Jamrud, Khyber Agency on Sunday. The rally was attended by FATA Teachers Association, political representatives, JUI’s Said Kabir, JI’s Zaroon Shah and PTI’s Nisbat Khan. PPP took out a rally from Bab-e-Khyber to Jamrud Press Club.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2016.
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