BEFORE 1972, significant labour litigation did not exist in Pakistan. When the first PPP government assumed charge under the leadership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, it carried out several amendments in the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 1969, purportedly for the welfare of workers. In this context, two additions were made in the labour judiciary: junior labour courts (JLC) and the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC).

Labour courts did exist and disposal of cases was far quicker than it is now, court proceedings began on time and defaulting parties were rarely granted adjournments. All proceedings took place in court and not in judges’ chambers, which is currently practised in some courts, and judges followed all rules faithfully.

For one of our company’s cases in a Lahore labour court, certain attendance and payroll registers were submitted as evidence. Later, the same records were required by the audit department of the company. A company representative approached the court for the material but the request was denied. However, the material could be photocopied within the judicial premises. The judge also ordered the company to make advance payment of electricity charges for the photocopy machine to the........

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