LAHORE: Those trying to facilitate the corrupt, money launderers and thieves through the amnesty schemes should also come up with similar packages for the poor farmers, says Tahirul Qadri – chief of Pakistan Awami Tehreek.

Addressing the farmers’ wing of the party on Friday, he said that wheat harvesting had just started but the farmers had a long list of complaints.

“They are neither getting gunny bags, nor know the location of procurement centres. They are selling their commodity at much cheaper rates,” he said.

“Even at the fag end of its tenure, if the government comes up with some kind of package for the poor farmers, the PAT, despite all political differences, would support it,” he added.

Mr Qadri lamented that the agriculture sector was on the brink of disaster and the government seemed to be unmoved.

Qadri was also briefed by his lawyers on progress on Model Town case. He was of the view that the PAT did not have any enmity with police. The party knew that all was done on the order of their political master and those who “performed well” were later decorated with awards, promotions and shoulder promotions.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2018