Lahore, Hafiz Naeemur Rahman, the Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, has issued a four-day ultimatum to the Punjab government, threatening to stage a sit-in in front of the Chief Minister’s House if the decision not to purchase wheat from farmers is not reversed. He expressed concerns over a purported $1 billion wheat import scandal, demanding a judicial inquiry into the matter.

According to Jamaat-E-Islami Pakistan, Rahman announced the start of farmers’ protest camps across the country beginning Friday, particularly targeting Punjab’s district and divisional headquarters. He criticized the provincial government’s decision as unprecedented and detrimental to farmers’ interests. The protest, he stated, would remain peaceful unless obstructed, at which point more aggressive actions could be initiated.

Rahman also addressed discrepancies between the statements of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister regarding wheat purchases. He called for the government to adhere to fixed wheat prices and support farmers adequately. Highlighting the rapid importation of wheat amidst a dollar shortage, he accused certain individuals of profiteering, thereby demanding high-level resignations and a transparent, public investigation led by the Chief Justice.

Furthermore, Rahman ridiculed the government’s online subsidy for farmers as impractical, given the limited digital access of small-scale farmers, and condemned the harsh treatment of protesting farmers by authorities. He emphasized the need for land reforms and announced plans for future movements to address agricultural and land distribution issues in Pakistan.