Monday, December 11, 2017
By
Zeeshan Shah

Police use force to disperse protesting farmers near Bilawal House

By
Zeeshan Shah
|

KARACHI: A farmers' association protesting at Bilawal Chowrangi attempted to move towards the Bilawal House following which police used force to disperse the demonstrators. 

The farmers were protesting against the sugarcane rate set by the government. 

Due to security reasons, both roads in front of Bilawal House were closed for traffic but were later opened after the protesters were dispersed. 

Police dispersed the protesters by using water cannons and batons and later carried out a search operation in adjoining lanes of the area to ensure the protesters do not gather again. 

Several protesters were detained by the police. A large deployment of police remained in the area after the farmers were dispersed. 

Traffic around the site of the protest was adversely affected earlier. 

On November 29, the provincial government, after a month-long delay, fixed the official procurement price of sugarcane and announced commencing its crushing season.

The price at which the crop will be made available to buyers was fixed at Rs182 per 40kg (maund). The decisions were taken by the provincial Sugar Cane Control Board in a meeting presided over by Sindh Agriculture and Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal. 

However, despite the fixing of the price, the sugar mills are yet to begin crushing the crop.