Farmers’ protest: Kissan Ittehad, govt hold second round of talks

ISLAMABAD: Kissan Ittehad head Khalid Hussain has confirmed that the protesting farmers’ held a meeting with interior minister Rana Sanaullah during the second round of talks, ARY News reported on Thursday.

While talking to journalists today, Khalid Hussain said that the first round of talks between the protesting farmers and the federal government had failed, whereas, a meeting was held with the interior minister Rana Sanaullah during the second round of talks today.

“We have apprised him about our demands. We have discussed the rate of electricity unit and Sanaullah sent a notification to the energy ministry to stop receiving bills from the farmers till October 10.”

READ: FARMERS WARN OF COUNTRY-WIDE BLOCKADE, GIVE 2-HOUR ULTIMATUM

The Kissan Ittehad head said that they are thankful to Sanaullah for initiating talks with the farmers. He added that the farmers will stay in the federal capital until the fulfilment of their demands.

He urged the federal government to make an announcement for the one-unit rate of electricity. After the announcement of the electricity unit’s price, the farmers will end their sit-in.

Earlier, the protesting farmers, under the umbrella of Kissan Ittehad, warned of ‘jamming’ the whole country, giving a two-hour ultimatum to authorities for negotiations.

READ: FARMERS STAGE SIT-IN IN ISLAMABAD

Thousands of protesting farmers continued their sit-in for the second day at the edge of Islamabad’s Red Zone for the fulfilment of their demands.

The protesting farmers have reached Jinnah Avenue and were marching towards D-Chowk, Red Zone for the fulfilment of their demands. Meanwhile, heavy traffic jams were witnessed on Express Road and adjacent highways due to the sit-in.

The farmers were demanding the restoration of the previous tubewell electricity tariff of Rs5.3 per unit and abolishing all taxes and adjustments.

The demonstrators demanded an end to the black marketing of fertilisers and a reduction of the urea rate. They also demanded that agriculture should be given the status of the industry.

The Kissan Ittehad vowed to continue the protest till the fulfilment of demands, warning of staging a sit-in at D-Chowk.