PESHAWAR, July 3: Owners of flour mills observed token hunger strike here on Thursday to protest against a ban imposed by the government of Punjab on the transportation of wheat from Punjab to the NWFP.

The strike camp set up in front of the Peshawar Press Club was arranged by the NWFP chapter of All Pakistan Flour Mills Association.

The association’s provincial president, Haji Niaz Ahmed along with a group of owners of flour mills observed the strike till 2pm, condemning the government of Punjab’s decision to prohibit transportation of wheat out of Punjab by invoking section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

Provincial Minister for Food Fazal-i-Rabbani also visited the camp to show solidarity with the millers and supported their stand on the issue.

Talking to journalists on the occasion the minister condemned the ban and termed it against the constitution and democratic values.

He said the Punjab government’s decision was uncalled for as there was no shortage of wheat in the open market of Punjab.

He said that it was the duty of the federal government to take notice of the unilateral decision of the government of Punjab.

“If the Centre wants to promote open market trade of wheat, it should take notice of the ban,” he said.

The situation, he added, warranted quick action on the part of the federal government.

“If the Centre does not act to make Punjab revert its decision then other federating units would also exercise freedom of taking unilateral decisions,” he said.

Mr Rabbani apprehended the Punjab government’s decision to invoke section 144 of CrPC stating that it would affect the much needed harmony among the federating units.