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| August 26, 2003 | Tuesday | Jumadi-us-Sani 27, 1424 |
Tobacco growers block traffic
SWABI, Aug 25: Tobacco growers held a march on Monday from Kernal Sher Chowk to Tarbela Dam and then to Islamabad to apprise President Gen Pervez Musharraf of their problems.
The Ittehad-i-Kashtkaran held a meeting at Kernal Sher Chowk and blocked the traffic for three hours. Its president Arif Ali Khan speaking on the occasion said that they would march to Islamabad to make their voice heard.
He announced that the growers would not pay electricity bills as Tarbela Dam was located in Swabi district. Besides, he said, the growers would cultivate both tobacco and poppy.
Earlier, the growers set on fire tobacco at the Kernal Sher Chowk.
They boarded tractor-trolleys, cars and motorcycles, carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the government, tobacco companies, district government and Pakistan Tobacco Board.
When the marchers reached Gadoon Amazai, DSP Imtiaz Shah stopped the procession and desired to hold talks with the representatives. The growers, however, turned down the offer and continued their march towards Tarbela Dam on way to Islamabad.
The DSP told the growers that they should discontinue the march as the higher authorities would reach there to look into their demands.
On way to Tarbela Dam Mr Khan told Dawn that they had observed hunger strike for six days but the provincial government, PTB and the companies remained dormant.
“Now we are on our way to Islamabad to meet with the president because only he could resolve our problems.”
He said: “This struggle will continue till our demands are fulfilled.”
He said that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government and the PTB did nothing for the welfare of the growers and toed the companies’ policies.
PTB Secretary Khan Faraz never bothered to visit the tobacco purchasing centres and the deputed staff of the board were bribed by the companies while in turn they were allowed to purchase tobacco from the growers at the lowest possible rates, the growers’ representatives said and demanded that tobacco should be made an exportable commodity like rice and cotton.
They said for cotton and rice the State Bank declared rates but both the State Bank and Export Promotion Bureau did nothing about the tobacco crop which contributes Rs22 billion to the national exchequer through various taxes every year.
Later, the SP told the growers that all the tobacco would purchased from the peasants and the Cess Development Tax had been withdrawn.
The heavy contingent of police did not allow them and from there the protesters returned and announced that they would go to Islamabad via Jehangira.
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