KASUR: Scores of farmers continued with their protest for the second day on Thursday against the Pattoki sugar mills administration for not paying their amounts outstanding for the last couple of years despite orders of the Supreme Court.

The protesters blocked Multan Road by parking tractor-trolleys and burning tyres.

The protest on Thursday irked the law enforcers who were busy, since Wednesday night, in raiding and picking up the PML-N workers to avert protest at the Lahore Airport on the arrival of Nawaz Sharif, on Friday.

More than 100 farmers staged a protest demonstration on Multan Road near Mallahwala Bypass and chanted slogans against the mills and district administration for not fulfilling their demand.

On Wednesday, the farmers protested against the mills administration and blocked the road. The Pattoki assistant commissioner and deputy superintendent of police held a dialogue with the charged protesters who dispersed on the assurance that their dues would be cleared on Thursday.

On Thursday, the farmers again gathered on Multan Road near Mallahwala Bypass when the mills administration refused to make payment to them.

Speaking on the occasion, the protesting farmers said the mills and district administration had flouted orders of the apex court. They alleged that the mills and district administration were hand in glove with each other and exploiting the poor farmers. They demanded that the CJP take notice of the violation of the SC orders.

Later, on the assurance of Pattoki AC and DSP, the protesters dispersed. However, they threatened to continue with their protest if their demands were not fulfilled.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2018