LHC warns against farmers' vulnerability

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmad has warned the government that leaving the farmers on the mercy of middlemen may lead to worst consequences.

The judge was hearing a plea filed by Sardar Zafar Hussain against exploitation of farmers and seeking directives to the authorities concerned for fixing wheat prices.

As the proceedings commenced, Justice Ahmad asked whether or not the government was going to purchase wheat from farmers.

A law officer told the court that the government was not purchasing the commodity but providing warehouses to protect the wheat so that farmers could sell it in markets.

The judge observed that, however, the open market was purchasing wheat on rates less than the expenses incurred by farmers.

"You first launched a campaign for cultivating wheat crop but at this time you left farmers to their own fate," Justice Ahmad remarked.

The law officer sought time for preparation for the case.upon which Justice Ahmad adjourned the proceedings.