MULTAN: A Kisan conference demanded of the government to introduce land reforms, enact laws to end the feudal system, distribute government land among landless farmers and tenants, fix land limits, reduce prices of fertilisers, seeds and pesticides, give ownership rights to Pirowal peasants and restore subsidy on agriculture power tariff, gas and agriculture inputs.
The conference was held in Mauza Kotheywala, a village in the suburb of Multan, under the patronage of senior peasant leader Malik Attaullah on Sunday. National Workers Party chief Abid Hassan Minto was the chief guest on the occasion.
The conference claimed that the government has failed to provide DAP fertilisers on cheaper rates. It demanded uninterrupted supply of irrigation water, check on substandard fertilisers, action against spray mafia, setting up of regular markets for cultivators and reduction in banks’ mark-up rates.
Addressing the conference, Abid Hassan Minto said a historic moot in 1970 had resulted in the land reforms of 1972.
“But thereafter the leftists went silent and now after 37 years they once again gathered to launch a struggle for poor farmers and workers,” he added.
He criticised feudalism and demanded its abolition and also demanded that all federal subjects be given to the provinces except defence, currency and communications. The conference organisers and ex-NSF president Malik Zafar Ran, Malik Mazhar Ran, Chaudhry Attaullah Gujjar, Chaudhry Jamaluddin Gujjar and Malik Mahmood Labar strongly condemned the government failure in curbing skyrocketing prices DAP and other phosphate-based fertilisers.
