Deal with farmers

The government managed to strike a deal with protesting farmers on Tuesday, reportedly after agreeing to most of their demands. Over 2,000 farmers had been on the streets of Islamabad for nearly a week demanding: taking back power tariffs for tube wells to their previous levels; slashing the price of urea and other fertilisers; 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.

But even though farmers’ leaders said they would be going home, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said more meetings would be held soon to formalise the finer points of the agreement. He also said the PM would announce a relief package for farmers in a week or two, but did not confirm if this package would incorporate the protesters’ demands. However, he did say that the farmers’ representatives and government negotiators would work in a “good way” to ensure that the farmers have no reason to start protesting again.

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’ leaders 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.

Also, the end of the farmers’ protest doesn’t mean Islamabad will be getting any more accessible anytime soon. Because of the planned PTI long march, law enforcers are still on alert, and Sanaullah said the army would be called in to reinforce the police and other civilian security forces. Islamabad can expect more roadblocks in the days ahead.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2022.

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