ISLAMABAD, Oct 1: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed reservations about the reported plan of the government to introduce corporate farming and give land to multinationals and foreigners.

An HRCP press release said that the report that the government was proposing a constitutional amendment to allow for the holding of agricultural land by foreigners, if true, could only be condemned.

The HRCP said the foremost claimants to vacant land were the tenants who had been suffering for decades.

In matters regarding the utilization of land, profitability should not be the sole criterion and the rights of landless tenants may not be disregarded, the HRCP said, adding corporate agriculture would undermine the interests of small cultivators.

The press release said that there was no justification in making wide ranging changes to the law or constitution when a new parliament was expected in days.

All attempts at settling the land issue in an arbitrary manner should be given up by the regime.