Lahore, 30 April 2024,(GNP): Numerous farmers detained following a police charge; Punjab’s information minister refutes the arrests. Azma Bukhari, Punjab Information Minister, alleges certain groups aim for political gains. Agriculturists urge the government to swiftly purchase wheat to prevent further price decline.
The provincial government faces criticism as farmers from throughout Punjab gathered at Lahore’s GPO Chowk on Monday, opposing the wheat procurement policy and urging the government to increase the wheat purchase target.
To “maintain law and order,” police resorted to baton charges against the protesting farmers and blocked roads leading to GPO Chowk with large containers. The farmers’ protest stems from the delayed wheat procurement and subsequent price decline.
Demonstrators claim they are being compelled to sell wheat at prices ranging from Rs 2500 to Rs 3000 per 40-kg, far below the government’s announced support price of Rs 3900 per 40kg.
Farmers from various cities, responding to the call of Kissan Ittehad, gathered at GPO Chowk to protest in front of the Punjab Assembly, aiming to pressure the government to reconsider its recently implemented policy.
However, their demonstration was met with police intervention. A sizable police force equipped with riot gear, prison vans, and water cannons was stationed at GPO Chowk.
In an attempt to disperse the crowd, police resorted to baton charges and detained several farmers, including Kissan Ittehad Pakistan’s general secretary, Mian Umair Masood.
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Prior to the protest, the Punjab government devised a plan to prevent wheat growers from reaching Lahore after Kissan Ittehad announced its protest initiative in the provincial capital. Consequently, heavy police presence was observed on motorways and roads leading into Lahore.
Activists from the Kissan Ittehad claimed that the government had obstructed numerous routes towards Lahore, including Shahdara, Sagian, Thokar Niaz Baig, and Sherakot. They stated that several buses carrying protestors were prevented from entering Lahore, and numerous farmers were detained.
The President of Kissan Board Pakistan, Rashid Minhalawas, was arrested from his residence in Lahore by the police even before the protest began. Prior to this, Khalid Hussain, the central chairman of Kissan Ittehad, had encouraged farmers to converge on the provincial capital via various routes to protest outside the Punjab Assembly at 2:00 pm.
Khalid Hussain also mentioned that the protest was delayed due to an extensive overnight crackdown by the police against farmers across Punjab.
Accusing the Punjab government of deceit, he alleged that the provincial authorities had initiated an overnight crackdown against farmers even before the call for the sit-in protest in Lahore.
Prominent officials of Kisan Ittehad, including Vice President Sabir Niaz Kamboh and Kisan Board Punjab head Mian Abdul Rasheed, were detained by the police, triggering widespread condemnation.
Farmers criticized the current wheat procurement policy as harsh, noting that in addition to the Punjab government’s refusal to purchase wheat at official rates amidst recent heavy rainfall, it has exacerbated the woes of wheat growers.
Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari stated on Monday that the Punjab government was in contact with genuine farmer representatives.
She emphasized that no representatives of farmers or their organizations had been arrested throughout the province.
She asserted, “The Punjab government is safeguarding the interests of farmers and will continue to do so in the future.”
The minister highlighted the existence of three to four farmer organizations in the country, cautioning that certain individuals masquerading as farmers were solely pursuing their political agendas.
She mentioned the presence of seasonal farmers who had contested elections against the PML-N from opposing parties. Bukhari lamented the politicization of the wheat issue by a particular party, describing it as the biggest adversary of farmers.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly strongly challenged the government on the Assembly floor, vigorously advocating for the farmers who took to the streets the previous day demanding a reversal of the wheat policy.
During their speeches, Opposition members, led by Ahmad Khan Bachhar and Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan, condemned the police crackdown on farmers and urged the government to heed their demands.
Interestingly, the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly aligned with the government and instructed Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman to present a clear policy on wheat procurement by Tuesday (today).
The Speaker even postponed the adjournment of the Assembly session for one day, hoping that the government would address the concerns of wheat growers and announce a revised wheat policy on the Assembly floor.
The speaker highlighted that PASCO had been assigned a target to purchase 18 lakh tons of wheat from specific districts, but not all districts were included. He also raised concerns about the substantial electricity bills farmers were facing when the government was not buying their produce at fair prices.
The speaker cautioned of an impending severe wheat crisis if the issues faced by farmers were not resolved. He mentioned having discussed these matters with the Food Minister, who also agreed that farmers’ concerns should be addressed.
Earlier, Opposition leader Ahmad Khan Bacchar brought the government’s attention to the arrests of farmers and alleged raids on the homes of farmers’ leaders. He noted that arrests began a day before the peaceful protests and criticized the government’s lack of seriousness in purchasing wheat from farmers.
Bacchar also condemned the government’s decision to open inter-provincial borders, arguing that it could lead to hoarding. He called for declaring an emergency for wheat procurement and proposed that flour mills and intermediaries should not be permitted to buy wheat from farmers at discounted rates.
Furthermore, Ahmad Khan called for an inquiry into the federal government’s decision to import wheat despite sufficient stocks being available in the country.
Additionally, Opposition members walked out from the Assembly and staged a sit-in on the Assembly stairs to show solidarity with the farmers. They later returned to the Assembly proceedings after receiving assurance from ruling party MPA Sami Ullah Khan that the speaker would allow a debate on the wheat policy inside the House.