Daily Times

The Lahore High Court’s (LHC’s) ruling on the issue of non-payment to farmers by Brothers Sugar Mills is commendable. In his judgment, LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah ordered the concerned authorities to sell the sugar stock of Brothers Sugar Mills and deposit it with the court for payment to farmers who had provided sugarcane to the mills. A number of farmers had approached the court against non-payment of their dues for the last two years by the management of the mill. They alleged that the mill’s administration was using its relations with the Sharif family to delay payments. The court’s decision has given hope to farmers, and set an example for others. A defiantly heartless mill mafia must not be allowed to loot poor farmers, especially those who use their alleged links with rulers for doing corruption. The said sugar mill had already defaulted on Rs 840 million payments of farmers. Previously, the Chief Justice had ordered the concerned officer to seal the sugar mill, and directed the management of the mill to come up with a payment plan.

Non-payment of dues to farmers is another example of repression by the mighty corporate concerns in a state where dissemination of justice remains a distance dream for a common man. Reportedly, Brothers Sugar Mills is owned by a close relative of the Sharif family. That makes it an even bigger issue that allegedly the relatives of the ruling elite are committing atrocities against the poor farmers by depriving them of their hard-earned money and using delaying tactics. Why did the Punjab government not intervene when farmers were not paid their outstanding dues for the last two years? Why did the provincial administration and concerned authorities remain unconcerned over this injustice?

Special kudos goes to the LHC for its legal intervention to protect the basic rights of farmers. Already the agriculture sector in Pakistan is in a shambles due to high cost of cultivation and other expenditures on irrigation, seeds, as well as fertilizers. The 15-20-hour unscheduled load-shedding in rural areas is affecting agriculture in Pakistan to the point of extinction in certain areas. For many farmers with small landholdings, the basic facilities of enough water for irrigation and electricity for farming purposes is as elusive a reality today like the dream of growing roses in a desert. After the hardships agriculturists go through, if a farmer is not paid his due share, who is to be blamed? It is simply the failure of the state. The anger of farmers is not without merit, and they are justified in seeking legal redress. Instead of ignoring such incidents as insignificant, government should draft a mechanism so that no unfair practice is repeated again. Instead of promoting cronyism and favourtism, government needs to hold the guilty groups accountable for their misdeeds and provide justice to aggrieved farmers. *