MULTAN, June 16: A three-member American delegation from its diplomatic mission to Pakistan visited the Okara military farms on Monday to witness human rights’ violation amid massive build-up by the Rangers to ‘crush tenants revolt.’

The delegation visited chaks 3/4L, 11/4L, 12/4L and 4/4L where the tenants and their leaders apprised it of their woes, according to a press release issued by the Anjuman Mazareen Punjab.

The farmers informed the delegation that the law-enforcement agencies and the paramilitary force of Rangers had carrying out atrocities to force them to quit their struggle for the land ownership rights.

AMP chairman Liaquat Ali told the officials that the tenants of the farms had been held hostage by the Rangers who had besieged the farm villages with pickets and barricades to make entry and exit impossible. He said a number of people had lost their lives for want of food and medical cover at the farms.

The AMP chief iterated the farmers’ stance that the tenants did not acknowledge any one, but the Punjab government as the legal owner of the lands. He said the tenants would negotiate only with the Punjab government for a peaceful settlement to the conflict.

Meanwhile, the tenants took out processions in almost all the villages of the farms to demand release of their colleagues who were imprisoned in what they believe fabricated cases. They also demanded release of journalist Sarwar Mujahid who was charged along with the AMP leader under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

PETITION WITHDRAWN: Rights’ activist Rashid Rahman withdrew his petition for the recovery of nine officials of the local courts, as the respondent police denied in court on Monday that they were in their custody.