OKARA: Anjuman-i-Mazareen Punjab (AMP) secretary general Mehr Abdus Sattar was detained in the Central Jail here for 30 days on Saturday, a day before a peasant convention he was scheduled to hold on April 17, Sunday (today).

After the detention orders were issued by District Coordination Officer Sucrat Aman Rana, the AMP leader was arrested by police from his house.

Mr Sattar had given a call for an All Punjab Peasants Convention at 4/4L, a village of Military Farms Okara (MFO).

The convention was being held in violation of Section 144, imposed by the DCO across revenue limits of the district.

Bilawal for resolving tenants’ issue amicably

According to officials, the AMP leader had been warned through a notice issued by the DCO two days ago that Section 144 had been imposed in the district under which any assembly of more than five persons at a public place was illegal, disallowing public meetings or processions.

They said despite the notice, Mr Sattar had been constantly campaigning for the convention in connection with the International Day for Peasants under the AMP banner.

After AMP leader’s detention some 150-200 tenants of MFO tried to block the GT Road near 3/4L village railway level crossing but police dispersed them by firing a couple of teargas shells.

At the time of filing of the story police were patrolling around the level crossing.

However, police said the situation was quite under control.

Meanwhile, no protest was staged by tenants of Renala Khurd estate, Kulyana estate, Probinabad and Byle Ganj at the arrest of the AMP leader.

AWP: The Awami Workers Party (AWP) condemns the arrest of AMP secretary general, a day before a peasants’ convention to mark the International Day of Peasants’ Struggle.

In a press statement, the party said it had fears for the safety of arrested AMP leader Mehr Abdul Sattar and other activists held by the police on “fake” charges.

Slamming the use of what he called colonial laws (16-MPO) by the government against “peaceful peasant activists”, the party demanded immediately release of Mr Sattar.

The party also alleged harassment of peasants “to dissuade them from participating in the Sunday’s convention.”

Bilawal: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said the issue of Military Farms Okara peasants should be resolved amicably without the use of force and rendering them landless.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, Mr Bilawal said he had taken the issue seriously as PPP and its leadership had always fought against the injustices and atrocities committed against labour and peasant class and would continue to side with them in any movement for their genuine rights.

He said agriculture was the only source of livelihood for these peasants, and if denied land how they could live their lives.

He said that Nawaz Leage government had failed to find out international markets for local agricultural produce, adding that most of such items could be exported to neighboring countries.

The PPP chairman said his party would oppose any use of force to render these peasants landless. He asked the government to ensure rights of peasants and resolve the issue amicably.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2016