Protest: Peasants’ demand met after 22 days

HYDERABAD: A 22-day long sit-in by the 72 peasants of the Hindu Kohli community ended after fulfilment of their demands. The peasants, including women and children, were protesting for the recovery of their cattle at a footpath outside Hyderabad Press Club. Speaking to media outside the club, they said that their nine goats, eight cows and a buffalo were in the possession of the landlord in Umerkot. This is the same landlord alleged to have kept these 72 peasants in bonded labour. “We were bonded peasants and were freed from a private jail in Umerkot on the court’s order 22 days ago,” they said. “But we could not take our cattle with us.” During the protest, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) commissioner Dr Ashothama said that the civil society, including the HRCP, supported the cause of the vulnerable community. The joint struggle resulted in the recovery of the peasants’ livestock.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2014.