LAHORE - A faction of Kissan Ittehad Pakistan, led by its chairman Ch Anwar, staged a protest demonstration on Thursday, blocking the whole traffic of Multan Road near EME colony to press the government for acceptance of their demands. However, other group of Kisan Ittehad which is led by Khalid Mehmood Khokhar, has declared disassociation with this protest, saying the all protesters are defaulters of government in power bills. After negotiation with government representatives, the protesting farmers called off their protest and cleared the road giving an ultimatum for acceptance of their demands till June 15. Ch Anwar, the leader of protesting growers, said that the peasants were demonstrating and protesting since long against imposing of GST on agri inputs and over-billing but the government was not paying heed to it.

He said that the farmers started reaching Lahore on Wednesday evening to press the government for their various demands including completion of wheat procurement drive, withdrawal of cases registered against growers during last protest etc. However, the government only moved when long queues of vehicles were seen on Multan Road and other roads leading to Lahore. He said that the government had asked for one week time for acceptance of their demands. ‘If our demands were not met, we will return to the provincial metropolis and demonstrate in front of the Punjab Assembly building to raise voice for our rights.