Govt to challenge ECP verdict on Kissan Package: Pervaiz Rashid

Lahore: Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Thursday said the government had decided to challenge the ECP’s verdict to suspend the Rs 341 billion Kissan Package in court. “The government will exercise its constitutional and democratic right to get justice for the downtrodden segment of the society, as the package was for the small farmers having 12.5 acre land and not for big landlords,” he said while talking to media persons here.

However, he said, it was yet to be decided that which forum should be approached to file the appeal and consultation with lawyers was in progress. “The lawyers will decide about the forum whether it should be the  Supreme Court or the High Court,” he added.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, he said, had announced the Kissan package on the demand of small farmers and their elected representatives keeping in view their needs. He said the Prime Minister had promised during the last federal budget to mitigate sufferings of the farming community by providing them financial assistance to purchase quality seeds, fertilizer and pesticides so that they could get better yields.

Pervaiz Rashid cautioned that if the Kissan Package was not restored, the fields might turn into ‘graveyards’  and economic conditions of farmers and growers would further deteriorate.
He said the package was for the farming community across the country and it was not any constituency or province-specific.He said the voice in favour of farmers would also be raised in the National Assembly, Senate and in the media.

The minister said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan was against the Kisan Package as it was not for big landlords who mostly belonged to the PTI like Jehangir Tareen and Shah Mehmood Qureshi.He said Imran forced the ECP to suspend the package on ‘gun point,’ giving threat to stage a sit-in in front of its offices on October 4.”After getting the decision of his choice Imran Khan has put the pistol in his holster to bring it out after October 11 – the date for NA-122 by-election,” he remarked.

The minister said the government had been giving subsidy of billions of rupees on petroleum products and in energy sector, besides announcing different development and welfare projects for the common man. It would continue it such endeavours with the same spirit in future.”Will all these be challenged with the ECP in future too, as definitely there will be by-polls and local government elections in different times and parts of the country in coming years?” he questioned.
He said any step taken for the welfare of masses should not be associated with electoral process.He said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief would be responsible for impoverished condition of farmers and growers, who were already confronted by difficulties.

Imran Khan always did politics of turning the common man’s benefit into loss, he said.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the minister said, had  provided the best transport service in the form of Metro Bus project, established system of quality education by setting up Danish Schools and distributed laptops among brilliant students.