Farmers take out rally against closure of canals

TOBA TEK SINGH: Scores of cultivators of Khikha, Chuttiana and Pirmahal villages took out a rally against the Irrigation Department for closing Gogera and Jhang branches of Lower Chenab Canal here on Thursday.

The protesters were led by PML-N MPA Mian Muhammad Rafiq, Awami Workers Party district president Zubair Chaudhry, Pakistan Kisan Committee leader Ghulam Sarwar and union council former nazim Naeem Fateh. They marched from Toba-Khikha Road up to Shahbaz Chowk and blocked Jhang, Rajana, Gojra and Shorkot roads to register their protest against the closure of canals.

Addressing the rally, MPA Mian Muhammad Rafiq, District Bar Association former president Mian Farrukh Iqbal, union council former chairman Arshad Jamil and others said that the closure of canals for the last three months had destroyed their crops.

MPA Mian Muhammad Rafiq said that he had met the Punjab Irrigation Department officials, who claimed that there was insufficient water in Mangla Dam and it could not be released to their canals, but some other districts were being supplied water.

The speakers warned of launching a long march from Toba to Lahore and besieging the Chief Minister Secretariat if their demand was not met.

Later, talks were held between Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kashif Muhammad Ali and protesters. The ADC assured them that the Irrigation Department would be asked to immediately release required water in the canals. After the assurance, the protesters dispersed.

SHOPKEEPERS OBSERVE STRIKE: Pirmahal shopkeepers Thursday observed a strike against the arrest of three shopkeepers.

The protesting shopkeepers blocked Faisalabad-Multan Road for three hours.

Talking to reporters, they said lower grade employees of different government departments were given powers of price magistrates, who fined and arrested other shopkeepers over minor charges. They demanded immediate release of the jailed shopkeepers.

Later, cops held talks with them and assured them that the higher authorities would be apprised about their demands.