Speakers at a seminar called for expediting struggle for bringing land reforms across the country and safeguarding rights of farmers by following slogan of Sufi Shah Inayat which is "Jo Kherray so Khaaey' (He who cultivates land should take full crop share of it).
The "Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed Reference Seminar" was organised by the Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE) in collaboration with Oxfam International, Drynet International, Land Watch Asia, International Land Coalition and Asia NGO Coalition (ANGOC) at a local hotel here on the other day. In his welcome address, SCOPE chief executive and agriculture expert, Tanvir Arif, said that the National Peasants Coalition of Pakistan is struggling for bringing land reforms in the country. There is need to expedite struggle for land reforms by following slogan of Sufi Shah Inayat "Jo Kerray so Khaaey", he stressed.
Tanvir Arif said that country's lands are being sold on throwaway prices to foreign countries, which is actually land grabbing. Because, these countries have been even allowed to exploit water resources, grow crops using unsustainable farming practices and export all food to their countries under corporate farming policy.
Tanveer said that corporate farming in the country would deprive farmers of their rights and cause food insecurity in the country. He said that Sufi Shah Inayat was a high calibre leader, who fought with tyrant forces that exploited hapless peasant communities of his time and laid foundation of farmers' movement to protect latter's rights.
The SCOPE chief executive said that rural families are passing life under extreme poverty; hence, there is need to distribute land among them by reducing large landholdings. For, this will help tackle rural poverty. He argued that poverty would not end until peasant farmers are given their due rights. "Recently two conferences were organised for brining land reforms in the country in which political parties PML-N, MQM, PPP, ANP and others promised to bring land reforms. He said that there is dire need to bring land reforms in the country to end poverty.
Noted political analyst, Jami Chandio, said Sufi Shah Inayat was a great Sufi and farmers' community leader, who was martyred for setting in motion rebellious movement against the then rulers of Thatta in Mughal era. He said that Sufi Shah Inayat raised a slogan "Jo Kherray so Khaaey." It was not mere a slogan but a great wisdom for launching struggle for farmers and the poor. PPP leader Taj Haider said that Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto ushered in land reforms in the country but Shariat Bench termed them illegal. The PPP government had distributed 80,000 acres of land besides providing fertiliser and other facilities to the farmers, he asserted. Women farmers' leader Akeela Naz said that Punjab government should also distribute lands among women like Sindh government. She said that there is need to bring land reforms in the country so as to end poverty.-PR