PESHAWAR, June 26: The flood-affected farmers of Charsadda have criticised the government for forcing them to pay the already waived off agriculture loans.

Leading a group of the affected farmers, Jawad Jalal Khan told a press conference in Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday that the government had announced to waive off agriculture loans of farmers in flood-hit Charsadda district two years ago, but now they were asked to pay the loans.

“One of the poor farmers has sold his cattle and other domestic items to pay the loan installment,” he said and added that others who could not return the loans were also doing the same.

The farmers’ leader claimed that officials of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited knew about the poor financial position of the farmers, but they had been intimidated that their land properties would be auctioned if they failed to return loans.

Mr Khan said that the flash floods had washed away agricultural lands in the district and the farmers were leading a miserable life because the government had not extended any financial assistance or support for rehabilitation the farmers.

However, he said that the facility of waiving off agriculture loans was not implemented because of which small farmers had been facing enormous difficulties to restore their damaged agriculture lands.

“We have already submitted a petition in the Peshawar High Court and a local court in Tangi tehsil, Charsadda, against the collection of agriculture loans. But, the bank officials continue to collect the loans, which was unjust,” he said and demanded immediately halt to collection of waived off agriculture loans.

Mr Khan said that small farmers had been intimidated for return of loans, which could compel them to launch an organised protest campaign for their rights. He demanded of the federal government to implement its decision of agriculture loans’ waiver and stop harassment of the poor farmers.