kissan – kissan Ittehad

Farmers’ protest: kissan ittehad, govt hold second round of talks

ISLAMABAD: Farmers who had arrived in the capital on Wednesday to get their demands accepted have refused to budge from their stance, as the third round of negotiation between the government and the protesters ended in stalemate.

The Kissan Ittehad comprising farmers from across Punjab, has demanded the restoration of the previous tubewell electricity tariff of Rs5.3 per unit and the removal of taxes and adjustments among other things.

According to the farmers, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah used ‘threatening language’ during the talks and told them that the government would not let the protesters move towards the Red Zone at any cost.

Talking to the reporters, the interior minister said a cabinet committee was working on the issue of reducing electricity bills for the agricultural tubewells. He added that the panel would meet again on Monday to examine the proposals in this regard.

Contingents of police, FC deployed to foil possible move towards Red Zone

Mr Sanaullah claimed the ‘genuine’ demands put forth by the farmers were being considered “very seriously”, adding that the demand for deferring the tubewell bills had already been accepted and a notification to this effect had already been issued. “There is no justification for the sit-in,” he said.

A representative of the Kissan Ittehad told reporters that the interior minister warned that the government would have no qualms using state machinery against the farmers which had already been mobilised in light of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) call for protest.

Meanwhile, farmers blamed the stalemate on the “rejection of their demands” by the administration.

They said they were unfettered by the minister’s threats and vowed to march towards the Red Zone if demands remained unmet.

Kissan Ittehad Chairman Khalid Batth said the minister’s tone was “different” during the meeting and that the government should forget about using force against the farmers.

“[In case negotiation fail] our next plan of action is to go to the Red Zone,” the chairman added. The minister sought time till Tuesday to fulfill the demands, he said, adding that “we are committed to continuing the protest till acceptance of our demands”.

Earlier, more groups of farmers joined the protesters at Khayaban Chowk, after reaching the capital from different parts of Punjab, including Okara, the officers said, adding that their number increased to about 3,000.

Security plan

Sources said the police and paramilitary personnel deployed in the Blue Area have been given instructions to remain alert to foil a possible march towards the Red Zone.

According to the police security plan, the Khayaban-i-Suhrawardi Road near Serena Hotel would be blocked with containers and barbed wire.

Two platoons of the Anti-Riot Unit (ARU) of the Frontier Corps (FC) comprising 25 personnel each were deployed near the hotel, the police official said, adding that two platoons were also deployed at Nadra Headquarters Chowk, also blocked with containers and barbed wires.

At least four ARU platoons were deployed at Express Chowk – blocked with barbed wire – along with armed personnel carriers equipped with anti-riot gears. A police platoon along with 18 personnel of ARU was deployed at Marriot Chowk, the officers said, adding that Margalla Road was also blocked at the ISI picket and 18 policemen were deployed there.

As many as 17 platoons of police, including four ARU platoons comprising 18 personnel each and six tear-gas teams comprising 18 officials, were deployed around Khayaban Chowk, the officers said, adding that water cannon vehicles and armed personnel carriers were also deployed. The Special Branch was directed to deploy officials among the protesters to gather intelligence, the officers added.

Similarly, the in-charge of the tear-gas store was also deployed in Sector G-8 with three vehicles loaded with 6,000 long-range and short-range shells and as many guns as available to the department. All the armed personnel carriers deployed at different locations were equipped with 500 each long-range and short-range tear gas shells.

Police officials said the security division of the capital police was also made responsible for the security of the Red Zone along with all the important installations, adding that the capital administration also requested to make arrangements for ambulances, paramedical staff, and fire engines.

Talks between protesting farmers, govt successful

ISLAMABAD: In a late night development, talks between representatives of Kissan Ittehad and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah remained successful after which the farmers called off their protest.

The farmers were agitating against the increase in utility bills, taxes and urea price.

In a press note issued late Wednesday night, negotiations between representatives of Kissan Ittehad and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah took place at 8:30pm at the minister’s official residence.

Negotiations remained successful and the farmers’ representatives agreed to call off their protest on the condition that a meeting would be arranged between them and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his return.

Rana Sanaullah thanked the farmers for honouring their commitment and calling off the protest. A meeting of Kissan Ittehad representatives with the prime minister will now be held on Sept 28.

Kissan Ittehad representatives to meet PM on Sept 28; Red Zone had been partially sealed

Earlier, the capital police had partially sealed the Red Zone after farmers from Punjab started reaching F-9 Park to protest against the increase in utility bills, taxes and urea price.

All entry points of the Red Zone, except Margalla Road and Khayaban-i-Suhrawardi, were sealed with containers and barbed wires, the officials said.

Besides, well-equipped contingent of police was deployed there as well as at the two open points, with directives that only officials and people who either lived in the area or worked there would be allowed to enter.

In a statement which was posted on the capital police’s official twitter account, some people reached Islamabad from Punjab which was why security at the Red Zone had been further strengthened. Besides police have been deployed at the Red Zone’s entry and exit points, it added.

The police also announced that Section 144 had been imposed in Islamabad and those who violated it would be dealt with according to law.

Farmers started reaching the federal capital from different parts of Punjab in caravans, rallies and groups and assembled at F-9 Park. Massive traffic jams were seen on roads adjacent to the park.

Officials of the capital administration and police also reached the park while police personnel were deployed in and around the park to maintain law and order.

Till the evening, the farmers’ numbers swelled over 1,500, the officials said, adding that talks were being held with them. A police official said farmers had given a deadline to the negotiators and said they would march on the Red Zone if their demands were not met.

According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the capital police intercepted the party’s vice chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, when he reached F-9 Park to participate in the farmers’ protest. In another statement, the party said Mr Qureshi was surrounded by the police and was prevented from joining the protest.

“It is against fundamental rights of free protest,” Mr Qureshi said, adding that, “how many more voices will the imported government suppress”.

We will announce a protest.

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Pakistan Kissan Ittehad’s deal

The incumbent government managed to strike a deal with farmers, who had been protesting under the banner of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad on the streets of Islamabad for nearly a week. The farmers were demanding taking back power tariffs for tube wells to their previous levels, slashing the price of urea and other fertilizers, raising the control rates for wheat and sugarcane, withdrawing several new agriculture-related taxes and levies, and clearing of canals and release of water for farms.

Kissan Ittehad Chairman Khalid Butt called off the protest at a press conference where Inteior Minister Rana Sanaullah was also present. Sanaullah said that the government had agreed to the farmers’ demands, which included delay and installments in payments of power bills and cancellation of fuel adjustment charges. On other demands, the interior minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a ministerial committee — with Sanaullah on the board — that would hold meetings with farmers’ representatives and negotiate finer terms of the agreement.

Even before an agreement was reached, Sanaullah had made it clear that the government would accept their “legitimate demands”. Considering Sanaullah’s rhetoric, several observers would be dumbfounded by why the government didn’t send out politicians to negotiate on day one when farmers felt the government was dismissing those same “legitimate demands” by sealing off the city and using the police as their negotiators instead of people who actually represent the PM and his cabinet.

At the same time, we should not forget that the farmers actually made their demands at an earlier protest last month, and the government accepted them but failed to act. Despite Sanaullah’s promises, farmers have good reason to be wary.