SWABI, Aug 19: Tobacco growers have vowed to continue their hunger strike until their problems are resolved and requirements are met by tobacco companies and the local administration.
The hunger strike began with a protest demonstration on Monday as Virginia tobacco growers marched to Kernel Sher Chowk where they set up their camp.
The protesters alleged that the local MNAs and MPAs had done nothing for their welfare and were working hand in hand with companies that had been exploiting the growers.
Most of the growers belong to Yar Hussain belt and people of remaining tobacco growing localities were expected to join them.
President of growers’ association Arif Ali Khan told Dawn that so far none of the officials of the local administration, Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB), Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC), Lakson Tobacco Company (LTC) or the district government had visited their camp and only the Swabi Qaumi Mahaz Chairman Dr Salim, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MNA Muhammad Usman and the district president and former MNA Haji Rehmanullah had visited the tobacco growers.
He said: “Our first plan was to observe the strike for three days but it depends on the resolution of our problems. It may be extended. We may adopt another line of action. The positive or negative response of different companies, the PTB and local administration would shape our programme.”
General Secretary Hidayat Ali Khan said that the main demands include: picking up tobacco from all growers; abolishing the Cess Development Tax; purchasing of tobacco according to the tobacco marketing Law MLO-487; giving up the bogey of surplus tobacco; inclusion of the real representatives of the growers in the PTB and vigilance committees; abolishing of new grading system and stoppage of down grading by the leaf managers of different companies.
In the morning when this correspondent reached the camp, some of the protesters clashed with each other and threatened to leave the camp. However, some members requested them to work for the success of their cause.
LGRC OPENED: A Local Government Resource Center (LGRC) has begun functioning in the district to guide the lady councillors.
The center has been established by the Aurat Foundation and Samajee Rabita Behbood Council to have a place where the lady councillors and other women could discuss possible solutions to their problems. However, if some of the issues could not be resolved, they could approach the Aurat Foundation.
District Nazim Sher Zaman Sher and Naib Nazim Muhammad Jamil, Tehsil Swabi Nazim Masood Jabar, social welfare officer, members of the Aurat foundation and the lady councillors participated in the inauguration of the centre on Monday.
The district Nazim said that in the outgoing financial year the district council had allocated Rs6.2 million for development works but instead of focusing on women’s welfare they spent the amount on other development schemes. He said that the district government was ready to extend help to the lady councillors.
ENCOUNTER: A proclaimed offender, Gohar, wanted by the NWFP and Punjab police in various cases was killed in a police encounter here on Tuesday. Police officials had erected blockade near the GIK Institute and when a police party raided the area Gohar opened fire at it and the police retaliated. As a result he was killed on the spot but two other offenders were able to dodge the police and escaped.
LOOTED: Three shops were looted by some unidentified robbers in Shahmansoor.
The robbers had taken all the valuables and cash at night and the shopkeepers came to know about the incident when they opened their shops in the morning.
Among the looted shops one was a clinic.