Mapping Labour Unions in Pakistan trade unions membership kept increasing, 6 the subsequent governments in Pakistan through a series of legislative, institutional and arbitrary measures promoted weaker, politically fragmented and plant-based unions. However, this is not to discount the role of labour unions as influential social movements, particularly in pro-democracy struggles. Additionally, left-wing trade unions, groups and intellectuals played a strong role in the trade union movement in Pakistan. Left-wing intellectuals like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, C. R. Aslam, Shaukat Ali, Eric Cyprian and others held responsible positions in trade unions and helped workers fight the employers and government actions against trade union participation. 7 1.1.2. Legislation Development While post-independence Pakistan underwent a series of political and military­led governments, the labour legislation too varied from the government to government. However, most of the labour legislations were essentially rooted in the inherited legal framework of Britain. 8 It is pertinent to note that Pakistan joined ILO in 1947, ratifying Convention 87, relating to the right of workers to organise, and Convention 98 concerning the right to bargain collectively, in the early 1950s. In terms of the industrial relations act- which regulates and establishes a framework for workers-employers engagement, Pakistan inherited the Trade Union Act of 1926 that allowed general or enterprise-based unionisation, excepting those in the service of the armed forces(The act even extended the right to unionisation to civilian employees in the armed forces). Another important law, the Trade Dispute Act of, 1947 was also passed just after the independence, which provided the right for arbitration between employers and employees to settle and prevent disputes. The disputes could also be forwarded to the court for further inquiry or reconciliation. However, in subsequent years, the state whether democratic or military-led went on to adopt an exclusionary and intervention-led regulatory order. The military takeover by General Ayub Khan in 1958 completely scrapped the 6. Labour Movement in West Pakistan 1947-1958: A Perspective on Punjab at https:// gcwus.edu.pk/wp-content/uploads/1.-Labour-Movement-in-West-Pakistan.pdf 7. Labour Movement in West Pakistan 1947-1958: A Perspective on Punjab at https:// gcwus.edu.pk/wp-content/uploads/1.-Labour-Movement-in-West-Pakistan.pdf 8. PHD 5