PESHAWAR: Workers of Muttahida Mazdoor Kisan Party (MMKP) held a protest demonstration here on Monday against the eviction of hundreds of farmers in Charsadda district by the influential landowners, and also demanded early release of the party’s president Salar Amjad and other leaders, who were taken into custody for supporting the tenants.

The protesters gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club led by the party’s chairman Kamil Bangash and vice president Waris Khan.

Holding banners and placards inscribed with demands the protesters also shouted against the government and asked for release of MMKP leaders and rehabilitation of the farmers.

The speakers said the MMKP leaders had been arrested for the only reason that they were supporting the farmers who had been expelled by influential people through police.

Besides, they said the police had registered cases under the anti-terrorism law. They said at least 450 tenants were expelled from their lands.

The MMKP leaders said thousands of farmers would come to the streets and hold rallies in Peshawar and would also march on Islamabad and observe sit-in outside the parliament house to draw attention of the political parties towards the exploitation of poor farmers.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2018