GUJRANWALA, Nov 11: The farmers’ organizations in the district have criticized the government for imposing sales tax on agricultural diesel engine and described it as a burden on the poor farmers.

At a meeting presided over by the divisional president of an agricultural chamber, Sarfraz Ahmad, the farmers said almost 80 per cent of the tubewells in the country were running on diesel engine. Imposition of sales tax on these diesel engines would affect the farmers, who had already bearing other taxes with difficulty, they said.

Saying that the farmers in other countries were being given maximum facilities, the protesters demanded the government that it should withdraw the sales tax on the diesel engines for the good of the agriculture sector.

SUSPENDED: Five policemen, two of them ASIs, were suspended from service by the district police officer on the charge of corruption, here on Tuesday.

Reports said ASI Muhammad Ayub and head-constables — Khizar Hayat and Riaz Ahmad — stopped a wagon (LOK-4750) on the Hafizabad Road and demanded bribe from driver Muhammad Munir. On his refusal, however, they impounded his vehicle and tortured him with the connivance of ASI Mushtaq Cheema and Ladheywala Warraich police station moharrar, and released him after receiving Rs1,700.

The commuters complained to DPO Saud Aziz and SP (traffic) Intizar Husain Jaffari about the incident after which the suspects were suspended from service.

SHOT DEAD: A watchman of a factory was shot dead allegedly by his colleague at Chak Hinda, Kamoki, on Tuesday.

Reports reaching here said Nasir reached the factory about 15 minutes late for which his colleague, Akbar, admonished him. After an exchange of harsh words, Akbar shot dead Nasir.