HRCP urges govt to protect Christian farmers from land mafia

LAHORE:An HRCP fact-finding mission, carried out earlier in March, has called attention to the alleged neglect faced by small farmers in Derek Abad, Kot Addu, many of whom belong to the Christian community and are now being evicted by local land mafia.

The mission was conducted in response to a complaint received from the pastor of Church Derek Abad, who alleged that local land grabbers were attempting to deprive the Christian community of land to which the latter had a legitimate claim. The mission has found an alarming rise in land grabbing by mafia and a consistent failure by the state to uphold court rulings that protect these vulnerable farmers. These include a 1983 directive from the Punjab Board of Revenue, which recognised the community’s right to the agricultural farm land.

Similarly, a 1995 directive from the deputy commissioner of Muzaffargarh’s office states that nine villages (547, 548, 552, and 584 to 589) were in the possession of the Christian community, contingent on the settlement of arrears, which have reportedly since been paid.

The farmers informed the mission that their writ petition was pending in the Lahore High Court, which had issued a stay order to prevent any evictions. Farmers who spoke to the mission said they were still awaiting land allotment letters, following judgments in their favour. HRCP is concerned that in the absence of such documentation, these farmers will lose the little land they currently cultivate. This would leave them vulnerable to forced displacement and without a source of income, increasing their risk of falling deeper into poverty.

The HRCP demanded the Punjab govt probe the matter and issue land allotment letters to all eligible farmers in Derek Abad. The govt must also take decisive legal action against land mafias and individuals involved in unlawful evictions and provide urgent protection to the affected families.