Kissan Ittehad party rally creates gridlocks across city

Urges public to take notice of water scarcity

ISLAMABAD: A protest rally organised by political party Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) created severe traffic blockages after it reached the capital on Friday afternoon. PKI, a representative party of farmers in Pakistan, held a long march starting from Multan which after an overnight stay and protest in Lahore extended to the capital on Friday.

PKI Chairman Chaudhry Anwar led the march from south and central Punjab districts to Lahore and then to Islamabad, demanding the construction of more dams in the country including the Kalabagh dam.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Anwar said PKI was a registered political party working for the rights and welfare of farmers.

“We just want to create awareness and bring the public’s attention to how crucial it is to build more dams in this country.

There is no water left in the canals, and ground water level is also decreasing substantially,” he said.

He said his party workers and farmers from Multan, DG Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Vehari, Kasur and other Punjab districts were participating in the march. While Anwar said more than 5,000 were participating in the rally, the police estimate put the figure at around 1,500.

The police briefly stopped the rally at Faizabad but then let them approach the press club.

Anwar said they would register their protest in front of the press club and leave by tomorrow.

He assured that there was no intention to hold a prolonged protest or sit-in.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2018.