A Moment of tenants (Muzareen Struggle) on the Land rights province of Punjab Pakistan
Anjuman Muzareen Punjab is a movement of 1 million landless tenants based in villages stretching over 10 districts of the Punjab (Okara, Khanewal, Multan, Lahore, Vihari, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Pakpattan and Sheikhupura and so on). In these districts of Punjab landless tenants settled this uncultivated land with their hard labour and they have tilled the soil for over a century. In other words these tenants have been cultivating the land for four generations. The official documents state that the land belongs to the Government of Punjab. However, on these lands companies and military agencies such as the RVFC, Military Seed Corporation, Livestock Agricultural Department, and Dairy Farm, Seed Research Farm and so on are operating. These companies have been collecting revenue from the Muzareen both in kind and in money terms. According to Government of Punjab Board of Revenue the payments from the tenants to these Departments and companies are unlawful since these organizations have no legal claim over ownership or revenue generated from this land. In the past the tenants of these areas have voiced their concern but despite several proclamations they have been unable to obtain ownership rights over land that should belong to the tenants. In July 2000 a new piece-rate and a yearly lease agreement was introduced in these farms. This new system and agreement represented a severe loss in the social and economic position of tenant farmers. In fact, it was widely felt that this new system and agreement was deliberately harsh in order to impoverish the tenants thereby forcing them to abandon their lands. In other words, this new system and agreement was designed to evict these tenants from their lands. Given this situation the tenants of the area mobilized under the slogan “Maliki Ya Maut” (Ownership or Death) and rejected the new system of piece-rate and yearly agreements. The movement organized under the title of Anjuman Muzareen Punjab(AMP). The movement grew rapidly to encompass hundreds of thousands of tenants all over Punjab. During this period the movement attempted to negotiate with the district and provincial administrations, the farm management, the Revenue Board, and even the governor of Punjab. However, the authorities were unwilling to negotiate and began a campaign of intimidation, coercion and cruelty towards the movement. On several occasions unprovoked violence erupted when the authorities sent armed police and paramilitary Rangers forces to terrorize the tenant farmers. Consequently 11 tenants lost their lives, hundreds including women and children sustained terrible injuries and hardships. Hundreds were arrested and went to jail. Today, 4 tenants are still in Central Jail Sahiwal and behind prison but they stay defiant in the call for “Ownership or Death”. The government has also applied severe economic pressure by dismissing over 350 government employees because they were relatives of these tenants. Here is a brief list of the abuses inflicted by the Rangers and Police on the Muzareen: · Telephones, electricity and canal water was stopped by the Administration and Rangers for over 3 month period. · Relatives and children of the tenants were badly beaten by Rangers and Police. Tenants faced these bad situations bravely and they are ready to face any trouble and suffering. · The Police and Rangers have also applied pressure on families to divorce young men and women who come from these villages. · 45 tenants (men, women and children) died due to the lack of medical treatment during the siege of these villages by the Rangers and the Police. It is important to note that in 1997, Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, promised even before he was elected as Prime Minister, that the ownership of residential and agricultural land be given to the tenants of Military Farm, Okara. He ordered the Chief Secretary Punjab to give the residential and agricultural Land to tenants. The authorities put the decision in log back and did not implement the orders. However, the tenant farmers have taken up their own cause under the slogan ‘Malki Ya Maut’ (Ownership or Death). about page.
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posted by amporg on dec 10 2011 | news & updates
Introduction:
Anjuman-e-Muzareen Pakistan (Punjab) is a movement of approximately I million landless tenants bases in villages stretching over ten districts of Punjab (Okara, Khanewal, Multan, Lahore Viharri, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Pakpatten, and Shekhupura and so on). In this district of Punjab landless tenants settled this uncultivated land with their hard labour and have tilled the soil for over a country. In other words these tenants have cultivated the land for four generation. The official documents state that the land belong to the government of Punjab. However, on these land companies such as the RVFC, seed corporation livestock, agriculture department and dairy farms, seed research farm and so on are operating and are receiving revenues from tenants in kind and in money terms. According to the revenue Board of the Government of Punjab these payments from the tenants to these departments is unlawful since these department have on legal claim over ownership or revenue generated form this land. Through the years the tenants of these areas have voiced their concern but despite several proclamation and attempts towards land reform they have been unable to obtain ownership rights over lands that should belong to the tenants.
In July 2000 a new piece-rate system and a yearly leas agreement was introduced in these farms. This new system and agreement represented a severe loss in the social and economic position of tenants. In fact, it was widely felt that this new system and agreement was deliberately harsh in order to impoverish the tenants thereby forcing them to abandon their lands. In other words, this new system and agreement was designed to evict these tenants from their lands.
Given this situation the tenants of the area mobilizes under the slogan “ownership or death” and rejected the new system of piece-rate and yearly agreements. This movement organized it self under the tile of Anjman-e-Muzareen Punjab. The movement rapidly grew to encompass hundred of thousand of tenants all over the Punjab. During this period the movement attempted to negotiate with the distract and provincial administrations, the farm management, the revenue boards, and even the governor of Punjab. However, the authorities were unwilling to negotiate and began a campaign of intimidation, coercion, and cruelty towards the movement. On several occasions unprovoked violence erupted between the movement and the authorities during the course of which 13 tenants lost their lives and dozens including women and children sustained terrible injuries and hardship. Even from behind prison bars the slogan of “ownership or death” continues to be raised boldly and defiantly.
The objectives of our movement
1) The AMP struggles for the rights of ownership of agriculture and residential land for the tenants of Punjab.
2) The AMP struggles for the universal and free education and health care.
3) The AMP struggles for the elimination of poverty, unemployment, inflation and ignorance.
4) The AMP struggles for the equality and participation in all walks of life women.
5) The AMP struggles for the education of tenants in the method of modern agriculture.
6) The AMP supports the effort towards the development of creative recreational activities such as a sports and culture for the children of poor tenants.
7) The AMP struggles for the protection of orphans and widows.
In order to promote these objectives, the anjuman-e-muzareen Punjab hlevel.
Olds meetings, seminars press conferences, workshops and so on
Organization structure
The organization structure of the AMP encompasses units from the village, union council, tehsil, and district, provincial and country level.
Constitution
1) the AMP is based on the principles of democracy
2) all the decisions of the AMP are taken on the bases of the rule of the majority
3) the AMP re-elects all the officials of the organization after every three years
4) the president of every zone is an executive member of the AMP
5) the AMP include a separate organization for women stretching from the village to the provincial level
6) the opinion and vote of women in all decisions of the organization holds equal weight
7) the president of the AMP reserves the rights through a majority vote to take action against any member or official of the AMP who is found to be in breach of the basic principles of the organization
8) if there are complain against the president or general secretary the local unit retains the right by majority vote to take a decision
9) all local units should transfer 30 percent of their funds to the provincial and country level
10) All units from the local to the provincial and country level will keep a written record of all income and expenditures.
Message:
We welcome all NGOs, (human rights, farmer organizations, labour unions women rights organizations) those want to take interest and encourage our straggle.
no comments for now
posted by amporg on nov 13 2011 | news & updates
Dated: 13 November 2011
Venue: Chak no 39 South Military form Sargodha
Chief gust: Founder and Chairman Younis Iqbal Anjuman Muzareen Punjab,Pakistan.
Guests:
· Tahir naveed member province assembly Punjab (MPA)
· Comrade Irfan president CMKP (labour & farmer leader from Lahore
· Maini M.Ramzan Azad senior leader mines workers Sargodha
· Shahnaz Gill leader farmer and women development sector okara
· Baba Reshed leader Anjuman Muzareen Okara
Participants:
Muzareen men, women and children from chak no 39 south sargodha, 44 south sargodha and people from sargodha city. The gathering of mass is almost 1500 hundred.
The meeting agenda(topic) on November 13, 2011 some people spoiled the crops of the Muzareen.
The meeting was started with reference of the holly Quran and Bible. the president Maher saeed sargodha unit AMP told situation the yesterday incident he said almost 25 people came on the land of Parvez Masih(a poor farmer of 39 south) they beat his family and thrown out livelihood items from his house. They started crash crops with tractors they were with guns and sticks they put pressure and also threat to kill is family members. His neighbor Rehmat Masih and Anwar Masih saw this incident they came in village and announce with loadspeaker that military farm gun men to snatch pervez Masih’s cultivated land. All people together in the middle of village they all were ready to fight with those people who are destroying the crops. At the mean time police interfered and reached on this land. The gun men from the military farm side went away and also left there guns and other articles. Muzareen men, women and children were emotional to teach them lesson but the leader of Anjuman Muzareen Sargodha control them. Due to police action and leadership control this meter was solved with peacefully. The SHO sidder police station sargodha promised that he will registered the cause against those gun men today. He full filled his commitment and registered a case under section 440/447, 452/354, 337h2/148 149 police station sidder sargodha. The SHO announced among the leaders that he will arrest them very soon.
Miss shahnaz gill leader of the farmers, she said your women and men saved the land from enemies. We are all appreciate and encourage you. I promise with you we will reach any time when you feel difficulties.
Maini M.Ramzan Azad said, Our all worker which are consisted on 20 thousand. On behalf of union I announced that our all workers would be stand with Muzareen in their difficult time.
He also said that Anjuman Muzareen is fighting for landless peasants. I again encourage your struggle.
Baba Resheed said I went to central jail Sahiwal for the cause of the Muzareen, I spent there two years and 6 months still I have courage and love for the Muzareen of Punjab. I would be ready to face these kinds of problems for sargodha Muzareen.
Tahir Naveed (MPA) he said I am representative of the govt of the Punjab and also representative of the minority, I appreciate your bravery to defend your rights. I would always available for Muzareen.
Comrade Irfan president (CMKP) Lahore said in our country there are two group of our society poor and rich the high society included with judges, generals beurocreat, landlords and industrialists they are all united to collect money legal or illegal way. They are not ready to give any share for poor. The second group is not united and organized. They are always used by the rich people. He threw light on Muzareen unity and reorganization. He announced that we were with you in past and we shell with you in future.
At the end of meeting the Chief guest Founder and Chairman of Anjuman Muzareen Punjab Younis Iqbal said I slout to all participants he said it is not first time from the Government and Military farm administration, they are doing is kind of injustice with Muzareen since last 12 years. They killed our 13 men and women during this struggle. Dozen of Muzareen sent to the jail. They disconnect electricity, telephone and canal water but our brave Muzareen faced these difficulties. Now they are getting freedom. He also announced a big jalsa meeting 27 nov 2011at 11:00 a.m. in chak no 39 south Sargoda. Leader of the political parties, civil societies and NGO will join this meeting. He said this land is belonged to muzareen no authority have right to snatch the land of Muzareen. Ownership Or Death. At the end of the meeting Hameed Gill Vice president of Anjuman Muzareen Punjab thanked all Muzareen and guests came from different cities.
Reported by: Anjuman Muzareen Punjab Media Incharge (Amir Parvez)
posted by amporg on aug 24 2011 | news & updates
On 24 Augest 2011 at Chak no 10/4L Okara,Punjab 9th death anniversary of Sulman Patras Martyr of AMP celiberated with great zeal. About 5000 thousands of Muzareen women, children and men participated this occasion. in the mean time rain was came but muzareen were not effected due to rain. People were come from different units in a big really . They were spoke AMP slogans and song Like Malike a Mot, Jara waya ohi Kahywe. Muareen were coming by mortar cycles, Rikshas, Tractor trailes,cars and vans. AMP youth members were arranged all management in a nice way. Every body felt that Sulman Patras is my brother and my son.
Fr. Anthony Sakundar from USA and father of Martyr Patras Masih were the Chief gust. Local MPA (N) Mian Yarwer Zaman was also honorable gust. Comrade Dr/ Pro and General secretary CMKP Tumor ul Raman came from England to attend this program. Comrade Musad A. Malk advocate high court Lahore , Comrade Irfan deputy General Secretary CMKP Lahore, Sahfiq M Sahfiq t.v. acter and M. Aslam Lohar singer from Lahore were also participated.
At 10 am Fr. Anthony Sakundar lead holy prayer special for Martyr Sulman Patras and other Martyrs of the Anjuman Muzareen Punjab . He appreaciated AMP struggle in last 11 years. He encourage the leadership of the AMP and through light on the future planning.
Mian Yarwer Zaman MPA(N) also encourage the AMP movement. He said my father also worked with peasants and I always with your struggle.
Younis Iqbal Founder and Chairman AMP, David Rahmat General Secretary AMP, Ghani Javeed chairman Okara unit, Nadeem Abass present district Okara, Abdual Jabar chairman Okara district , Numberdar Talub Hussan organizer Okara district were stress to Muzareen to unite together. Yaqub Sahotra senior Nab Sider Ranala state, H.Jaber General secetary Kulyana State, Malik Mumtaz secetary information all speakers encourage our local units participation. They appreciated the martyr of AMP special Sulman Patras and also those who faces the jail and police crises.Younis Iqbal said to unite local units youth, women group and supereme council members.
At the end of the program Muzareen Flag was hanged on Sulman Patras Grave. Red rose patles covered the whole grave of Martyr Sulman Patras. The fragrance of roses spread every where in the graveyard. Closing prayer of the anniversary said by M.Ali President Arif Wala unit, Wazer Sail Chairman Multan Unit,Musad A Malik Advocate and Fr. Anthony Sakundar.