UMERKOT: Growers of Umerkot district have urged the government, judiciary, officials of the departments concerned, journalists and NGOs activists to take measures and investigate the presence of alleged private prisons in Sindh and atrocities of landlords against peasants.

Addressing a press conference at the Umerkot Press Club here on Sunday, they described the private prisons and landlords’ atrocities as a conspiracy to destroy the agricultural system of the province and enforce corporate farming at the instigation of ‘external hands’.

Growers Dr Noor Ali

Shah, Haji Baqa Palli, Mohammed Ali Nagori, Mian Pir Mohammed Walhari, Shakeel Bajwa, Akbar Dars and others spoke.

Dr Noor Ali Shah said landlords and peasants were shareholders in the earnings of crops. “No private prison exists in Umerkot,” he added.

Akbar Dars said: “Under a conspiracy each day 50 to 100 peasants are recovered from so-called private prisons and released. After getting liberty they search a new landlord, make illegal money from him and again approach the court and are again set free. It has destroyed the agriculture system of the district.”

Pir Walhari said: “It is the responsibility of court and authorities to investigate the matter and find out whether the allegation is right or wrong.”