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LAHORE, Aug 21: The tenants of military farms land are determined to pursue their campaign to the end — “ownership or death” — their residents told a team of visiting journalists on Tuesday.
They also alleged state atrocities of which they told many stories. In Chak 21 RB, local general secretary of the Anjuman-i-Mazareen claimed that water supply, telephone lines and electricity supply to the area had been restored the previous night after eight days of suspension when authorities learnt about the journalists’ plans.
Haji Karim Bakhsh claimed that for many weeks they had been living under a police blockade. He claimed that a woman stopped at a police picket had delivered a baby there. Only later was she allowed to be taken to an Okara hospital in a critical condition. The baby, he said, had died.
He also said standing crop had been destroyed and they had been evicted from the land of their ancestors.
Mukhtaran Bibi, 60, said her son had been arrested on false charges of theft. This, she said, had made her husband a heart patient. Bashiran Bibi, 70, said her family had been deprived of land it had held for 90 years.
Sughra Bibi complained that the house her family had built at a cost of Rs35,000 had been razed to ground. Noor Masih claimed that his family was being harassed for resisting eviction.
Nadeem Ashraf said the land did not belong to the army. He said the original lease had expired in 1933 and there was no proof of its renewal. How could the army claim ownership and offer leases to tenants? He accused the Rangers director general and his local representatives of unleashing state force against tenants.
Asma Jehangir, one of the tour sponsors, took the occasion to counsel the army to heed, the “writing on the wall.” “The army should realize it was no more time to pressure people into abdicating their rights through state force. This is neither wise nor a propitious approach,” she said.
She also advised the farmers to continue their struggle as only sustained effort would get them the desired results. Women of the area, she said, deserved unqualified praise for their struggle.
Mian Ilyas of the Pakistan Kissan Board condemned the siege of the area by state forces and the unreasonable demands made from the tenants. Such policies, he said, had never succeeded and would not in future.
Briefing at 21-RB turned into a political meeting when Labour Party chief Tariq Farooq took the rostrum, he asked the tenants not to vote for mainstream political parties who had failed the farmers. Only Labour Party and the Anjuman-i-Mazareen deserved their votes, he claimed.
The Anjuman-i-Mazareen chief was equally political in his speech, asking the local office bearers to be prepared for elections. Slogans were raised in favour of the Anjuman and the Labour Party.
Three local poets recited poetry eulogizing the people’s struggle and asking them to be ready for more sacrifices.
RANGERS VIEW: Only the Punjab government can grant ownership rights to the residents of Renala military farms near Okara.
This was claimed by Pakistan Rangers Director-General Maj-Gen Hussain Mehdi on Wednesday.
Talking to Dawn here, he said: “the Rangers are neither owner nor can pass ownership on to someone. They came in with a specific task of solving the present crisis in favour of farmers, short of ownership rights. Helping farmers is part of Rangers’ mandate and duty that cannot be ignored.
“Unfortunately, the whole issue has been hijacked by petty political leaders and was being exploited for two particular reasons; elections and money.
“These so-called leaders are getting ready to contest election and they have collected Rs760 million in the form of contributions during the last two years — Rs 3,500 per acre.
“The Rangers reached an agreement with them but they backed out when told to return this money to the people. Since then, they are opposing any agreement tooth and nail. But they would not be allowed to get away with this money come what may.”
Maj-Gen Mehdi said attempt to change the method of running these military lands had been made an issue. Cases of corruption were reported in the previous batwara (allotment of shares) system because it was based on discretion of local army and civilian managers.
In order to wipe out the element of discretion, the army decided to give the tenants lands on contract basis. The new system was designed to wipe out discretion; instead of people dealing with people, it was decided to give lands on the contact basis and let the bank collect the money, he said.
For this reason, a new agreement was hammered out after marathon negotiations with the tenants. According to which, the occupants would be given these lands on seven-year contract. If the tenant abide by the terms of the contract, it would be automatically renewed. After the death of the tenant, the contract would be transferred in the name of the legal heir.
“This, in practical terms, means as good as ownership,” he claimed.
The farmers were further accommodated on the rate mechanism. It was agreed that the rate of the contract would be 50 per cent of the prevalent market rates. In most cases, the rate has come down to even 25 per cent. The limit of seven year was put for rates revision alone, but it was guaranteed that there would be no revision for the first seven year, he claimed.
Besides, the Rangers recommended to the Punjab government to grant ownership rights of the houses to these farmers and turn these villages into model villages. The Punjab government has agreed to look into the modalities of the recommendations.
The Rangers DG refuted the allegations of excesses by his force. The Rangers were specifically ordered to be polite, tolerant and accommodating.
“No officer of a disciplined force could violate these orders without risking his job. If there are some specific cases, everyone is allowed to bring to my, or local authorities’, notice and I stand personal guarantee that the matter would be solved within no time,” he claimed.
According to Maj-Gen Mehdi, his force was facing double trouble; those with vested interest — including armymen and civilians — in the previous system are resisting the new arrangement in spite of its pro-farmers base. Now the Rangers had to deal with both and save the farmers. “This is an easy task,” he claimed.
About the farmers’ apprehension that they could be made to quit their lands after the expiry of seven-year contract, Maj-Gen Mehdi said: “I, as director-general of the executing agency, am ready to sign as a guarantor that these agreements would be renewed in favour of those abiding by the terms.
“The Rangers are ready to be part of the agreement. The farmers must come forward and benefit from the offer. They reached an agreement but were misled by some so-called leaders and some of them backed out. But now they are beginning to realize benefits and signing the contracts,” he claimed.
