August 21, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-us-Sani 22, 1424

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SWABI, Aug 20: All political parties and both district and tehsil governments have extended support to protesting tobacco growers as their hunger strike entered the third day here on Wednesday.

The growers said that if the companies and the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal government failed to meet their demands, they would announce a new line of action on Aug 22.

MMA MNA Maulana Khalil Ahmad said that due to apathy of companies, the growers had experienced difficulties and both the Pakistan Tobacco Company and Lakson Tobacco Company along with the small cigarette manufactures had adopted anti-growers’ policies and continued their exploitation.

Another MMA MNA Muhammad Usman said that all demands of hunger strikers were genuine and the government and the Pakistan Tobacco Board should take remedial steps and if they failed to do so the parliamentarians of the area would continue to fight side by side with the growers.

The chairman of the Swabi Qaumi Mahaz and MPA Dr Salim said that the growers would continue their struggle.

Meanwhile, the protesting growers have established a new body, Ittehad Kashthkaran, Swabi, to fight for the resolution of their problems.