PMKM warns government of launching civil disobedience movement

Pakistan Muttahida Kisan Mahaz (PMKM) has warned the government of launching a civil disobedience movement if the problems faced by the agricultural sector are not resolved by October 31, 2011.
It demanded that the government should take steps for ensuring provision of cheaper electricity, diesel, required water and other farming in puts to the growers to ensure national food security. Failing this, PMKM along with other growers' organisations would launch a move to not pay electricity bills, water cess, agricultural tax and other levies on this sector.
This was stated by the PMKM Chief Muhammad Ayub Khan Mayo while addressing a press conference here Thursday at the Lahore Press Club (LPC). He was accompanied by the PMKM Punjab head Sardar Murad Khan, Pakistan Kisan Council President Chaudhry Muhammad Tahir Gujjar and Anjuman Mazaraan Punjab President Shahzad Shafi.
The growers leaders said that they would be arranging conferences in all the provinces and Azad Jammu Kashmir to be participated by the traders, lawyers, students and youth to prepare all segments of the society for a forceful movement, which would culminate at the dislodging of the present government, they claimed.
They alleged that the government was not paying any attention on ensuring food security and saving the coming generation from crisis. In fact the rulers' priority was only to save their rule.
Accusing the present government for ignoring the steps being taken by India in violation of 1960 Indus Basin Water Treaty, they said that the government deliberately has not taken a stay order from the international court against construction of Kishan Ganga Dam by India. They said this dam would ruin our Jhelum and Neelam power projects.
They said that India wanted to take control of three rivers Chenab, Jhelum and Sindh and use their water as weapon against us. They said that Indian control over river water would create issue of food in our country. Rulers while ignoring these Indian steps were not taking any step to construct hydel power projects in the country. They said that the government was hesitant to take support of China or Iran on power projects and get cheaper electricity.
They also condemned increase in the prices of agricultural inputs and loadshedding for agricultural tubewels as it was decreasing our agricultural production. They also opposed levy of 3.5 percent withholding tax on agricultural commodities.
PMKM and other farmer leaders said that electricity and gas loadshedding duration was deliberately being increased to stop fertiliser production in Pakistan while the government has no control over mafia involved in black-marketing of the fertiliser. They said that no new research centre had been set up for the agricultural sector in the country. There was also no effective control over the import of raw material of pesticides. They said that agricultural implements were also out of the purchasing power of the growers.