LAHORE - Racecourse police on Wednesday baton-charged a huge gathering of farmers, who came to Lahore Press Club from different parts of the province, and held over 70 of them in detention.
However, soon after Punjab Chief Minister Shabaz Sharif ordered their release, police set them free.
The farmers had gathered from different parts of Punjab under the banner of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad at Nasir Bagh, in order to protest government’s unfriendly policies.
They sought permission from the authorities to hold peaceful protests at Nasir Bagh Lahore but they were denied the permission to hold their protest at the suggested venue.
The farmers’ association then decided heading towards Lahore Press Club at Shimla Hill.
Before their press conference could begin, Punjab police started dispersing the participants followed by a series of arrests. The cops and the protestors clashed, and several farmers got injured.
Kissan Ittehad president Anwar Chaudhary was also amongst the arrested. After his release from police custody, while talking to the media, he said that the farmers had reached Lahore to voice against Punjab government’s unfavourable policies.
Anwar claimed that more than 500 workers of the association who had reached Lahore had been taken into custody. “Police authorities are unable to provide the reason for arresting the farmers,” he added.