QUETTA: The Pakistan Kissan Ittehad has postponed its planned long march and sit-in towards Islamabad after the Balochistan government assured the farmers’ group that it would address their demands.
The march was scheduled to begin from Quetta on Friday. Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Baath accepted the provincial government’s request to postpone the protest after talks with a government delegation.
Balochistan Home Affairs Adviser Babar Yousafzai said a delegation led by Provincial Minister Ali Madad Jattak met Baath. Balochistan Assembly member Mir Jahanzeb Mengal also attended the meeting.
Yousafzai said the delegation assured the farmers’ leadership that the government would take steps to address their legitimate concerns.
Baath accepted the assurances and agreed to postpone the march. He also assured the government delegation of the farmers’ cooperation.
The adviser said the decision also took into account the prevailing national situation and law and order concerns.
Farmers’ Demands
Before the talks, Baath had announced plans for the march during a press conference.
He said farmers and landowners wanted their demands addressed and had planned to continue their peaceful campaign until they received a response.
Baath also demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over what he described as flawed agricultural policies.
The Kissan Ittehad president said farmers from different parts of the country would join the planned march towards Islamabad.
He said the campaign aimed to highlight problems facing the agriculture sector, including rising costs and difficulties affecting farmers.
The group has also raised concerns over wheat procurement and prices, as well as government policies affecting agricultural production.
Baath said farmers form a key part of Pakistan’s food supply and called for urgent measures to support the sector.
He also criticised what he described as a lack of understanding among bureaucrats about the problems faced by farmers and landowners.
Call for Agricultural Emergency
Baath appealed to Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti to declare an agricultural emergency in the province.
He urged the provincial government to give greater priority to agriculture and address problems affecting farmers.
The Kissan Ittehad leader also raised concerns about the province’s law and order situation. He claimed that deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners were facing difficulties reaching their offices.
The postponement follows the government’s broader efforts to engage groups that had announced protests and long marches towards Islamabad. The federal government had earlier directed the Punjab government to engage the farmers’ alliance in talks.
For now, the Kissan Ittehad’s planned march from Quetta has been put on hold following the Balochistan government’s assurances.
