Frustrations boiled over across Europe this week as farmers staged widespread protests, blocking major roads, clashing with police, burning bales of hay, throwing eggs and setting fire to tyres in a desperate plea for help. From France and Belgium to Italy and Spain, the agricultural sector is in turmoil, squeezed by rising costs, unfair competition, and strict environmental regulations.

Farmers are facing a perfect storm of challenges. The cost of fuel, fertilizer, and other essential inputs has skyrocketed, while cheap imports, particularly from Ukraine, are undercutting their prices. Additionally, stricter environmental regulations are adding to their burdens, further impacting their livelihoods.

In response, farmers are taking to the streets, demanding action from their governments and the European Union (EU). Their demands include:
Higher prices for their produce
Reduced taxes and regulations
Protection from cheap imports, particularly from Ukraine
More flexibility on fallow land requirements

The protests have been particularly intense in France, where farmers have blockaded highways, surrounded Paris with tractors, and even stormed the Rungis wholesale food market. The French government has responded by dropping plans to cut subsidies on agricultural diesel and promising additional aid for wine producers. However, many farmers believe these measures are not enough, and the demonstrations continue.

The EU Commission has also proposed measures to address the farmers’ concerns, including limiting agricultural imports from Ukraine and offering greater flexibility on fallow land rules. However, these proposals require approval from member states, and it remains unclear if they will be enough to quell the unrest.

The farmers’ protests highlight broader concerns about the economic hardship in rural areas, the fear of competition from abroad, and the impact of environmental regulations on livelihoods. These issues are likely to resonate with voters in the upcoming European Parliament elections, potentially giving a boost to far-right parties who have expressed support for the farmers’ demands.

It remains to be seen whether the protests will lead to lasting changes in European agriculture. However, one thing is clear: the current situation is unsustainable, and governments and the EU need to find solutions that address the legitimate concerns of their farmers.

Manzoor Pashteen, who is incarcerated for more than two months is undergoing brutal and inhumane torture by the Paki police. PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen wrote in a letter that he was tortured in Jhelum prison before being handed over to the Attock Police, who arrested him and sent to Attock jail on January 27. He pens the letter to Abdul Samad Khan, his PTM colleague from the Attock Jail.

Clearly, before being handed over to Attock police, Manzoor was imprisoned in Jhelum prison under the controversial 3MPO act, charged up on by DC Chakwal. Manzoor Pashteen has been vocal about Pakistan Army’s nefarious intentions about the Pashtuns and for the policies that led to the persecution of Pashtuns.

Lahore HC on the arrest of Pashteen

It is worth mentioning here that in the hearing of Manzoor Pashteen’s arrest case, the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench reprimanded Chakwal DC over her reply to the reason for arresting Pashteen. DC Chakwal said that a pamphlet was recovered from Manzoor Pashteen, which posed a threat to law and order. Scorning the DC, court said, “Does peace and order deteriorate with pamphlets?” Later DC Chakwal told the court that Pashteen was freed from the jail on December 27 and that is not imprisoned on her orders anymore.

Interestingly, December 27, is the same day that Pashteen was arrested by Attock police after brutal torture. With due consideration, arresting a person for a pamphlet and that too under 3MPO is clearly not naivety of the Police but a well spun plot to keep Pashteen arrested. And the way he is continuously implicated in other cases one after other by arresting him from the gates of prison shows that its a big conspiracy to harass the PTM chief.

And without a doubt, to manage the police and execute this conspiracy requires an actor that has control over the entire law and order and establishment and that is Pakistan Army. Only Pakistan Army and its general have such a calibre and hold over the establishment.

This malicious foul play clearly shows that human rights and legal system is just a mockery in Pakistan. The only way an individual can survive under the authoritarian regime is to surrender their rights, silence their voice and follow the dictates of barbarian Pakistan Army.

In a recent press statement, the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan, through its Press Section, has announced its decision to dissociate from the upcoming General Elections scheduled for 8 February 2024. The move is a response to the discriminatory treatment in the electoral process.

The Ahmadiyya Community, a religious minority in Pakistan, claims that despite the elections being ostensibly held under a joint electorate, a separate voter list has been prepared exclusively for Ahmadi citizens based on their faith. Unlike other religious groups like Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Sikhs, Ahmadis find themselves listed under the title “Qadiani Men/Women”, a distinction that the community deems prejudicial and an attempt to disenfranchise its members.

An attempt to disfranchise Ahmadiyyas

This unique categorization of Ahmadis in a separate voter list is seen as a deliberate effort to marginalize and exclude, the already discriminated community from the political process, denying them the right to vote. The Ahmadiyya Community argues that such treatment contradicts the vision of Pakistan’s founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and is a violation of both the Constitution and the principles of the joint electoral system.

Amir Mahmood, the spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Community, expressed the community’s stance in the face of these challenges. Mahmood stated that given the prevailing circumstances, it is not feasible for the Ahmadiyya Community to actively participate in the upcoming General Elections. Consequently, the community has decided to disassociate itself from the electoral process and has distanced itself from any individuals claiming to represent the community in these elections.

This decision underscores the community’s commitment to standing against discrimination and a violation of their fundamental rights. Significantly, the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan received an official classification as non-Muslims through a constitutional decree in 1974. Additionally, in 1984, Pakistan stripped them of the right to self-identify as Muslims.