Mega City Housing Scheme: Farmers’ strike continues into 6th day
Warn authorities they will not surrender lands for the new project.
Farmers’ strike continues into 6th day. PHOTO: FILE
NOWSHERA:
The farmers’ hunger strike against the construction of the Mega City Housing Scheme on arable lands continued for the sixth consecutive day at Showbra Chowk on Sunday.
Farmers belonging to Mughalki village and other adjacent areas formed a joint action committee to protest for their rights in spite of the imposition of Section 144 in the area.
Addressing the strikers, the president of the joint action committee (JAC), Haji Ghulam Khaliq said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was the irrigation minister for the previous government and had also launched an irrigation scheme in the same area identified for the new housing scheme project. Residents cannot accept the fact the CM of the province is allowing the project to be executed even though he introduced farmer-friendly schemes in the district in his previous tenure.
Khaliq warned authorities that farmers will not surrender their lands at any cost. The construction of the new scheme was akin to depriving poor children of food, added the JAC president. Khaliq said in their fight to retain their lands, farmers will stage a sit-in at Showbra Chowk.
Leaders from various political parties also visited the hunger strike camp and expressed solidarity with the farmers. The politicians assured protestors of support in their bid to convince the government to withdraw plans for the housing scheme.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2013.
The farmers’ hunger strike against the construction of the Mega City Housing Scheme on arable lands continued for the sixth consecutive day at Showbra Chowk on Sunday.
Farmers belonging to Mughalki village and other adjacent areas formed a joint action committee to protest for their rights in spite of the imposition of Section 144 in the area.
Addressing the strikers, the president of the joint action committee (JAC), Haji Ghulam Khaliq said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was the irrigation minister for the previous government and had also launched an irrigation scheme in the same area identified for the new housing scheme project. Residents cannot accept the fact the CM of the province is allowing the project to be executed even though he introduced farmer-friendly schemes in the district in his previous tenure.
Khaliq warned authorities that farmers will not surrender their lands at any cost. The construction of the new scheme was akin to depriving poor children of food, added the JAC president. Khaliq said in their fight to retain their lands, farmers will stage a sit-in at Showbra Chowk.
Leaders from various political parties also visited the hunger strike camp and expressed solidarity with the farmers. The politicians assured protestors of support in their bid to convince the government to withdraw plans for the housing scheme.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2013.