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Published 18 May, 2003 12:00am

ISLAMABAD: Okara tenants’ strike enters 3rd day

ISLAMABAD, May 17: The hunger strike of Anjuman Mazarain Punjab (AMP) continued for the third consecutive day at Zero point on Saturday against the Rangers officials allegedly responsible for the killing of Mohammad Amir, a tenant of Okara military farms.

Chairman AMP Liaquat Ali and President Khushi Mohammad Dola were also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, they expressed their concern over the unwillingness of Lahore High Court to take a courageous stand against the high-ups of the Rangers allegedly responsible for the murder.

Commenting on the decision, they said the court had only permitted addition of the AMP’s version of the events of May 11 in the FIR that had already been lodged by the Okara district administration. The FIR implicates AMP leaders in the murder.

They claimed that all norms of justice were being ignored and added that houses in Chak 5-4/L, where this terrifying incident took place, were damaged by gunfire which provided enough proof of the fact that paramilitary forces had resorted to indiscriminate firing resulting in the killing of Mr Amir.

Liaquat Ali also denied reports surfacing in some dailies that AMP had agreed to meet with the Rangers DG after a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Elahi.

Though, a number of human rights organizations are urging the Punjab CM to immediately order withdrawal of Rangers from Okara military farms, no AMP leader was present in such meetings nor any comments were made in this regard.

Earlier, speaking at joint a press conference with PML-N’s Information Secretary Siddique-ul-Farooq, Liaquat Ali pointed out that AMP would engage with the representatives of the provincial government only after a friendly atmosphere for negotiations was ensured.

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