DCFA Pakistan writes a letter to PM, demanding action against the alleged misbehaviour with farmers at the National Dairy Conference
The Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association of Pakistan (DCFA Pakistan) has strongly protested an alleged incident of misbehaviour with its leadership and obstruction of freedom of expression during the National Dairy Conference organized by the Planning Commission of Pakistan. The association has demanded a neutral inquiry and disciplinary action from the country’s top leadership.
In a written application sent by DCFA President Shakir Umar Gujjar to Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, and Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, the association stated that DCFA Pakistan was formally invited to the conference through an official email. However, during the session, its representatives were not given a proper opportunity to express their views.
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According to the application, when Dr. Shehzad Naveed Jadoon handed the microphone to Shakir Umar Gujjar to share his views, a member of the Planning Commission, Dr. Mubarak, allegedly objected and questioned who had invited him. The letter further alleges that repeated interruptions were made during the speech and that there was even a threat of being removed from the hall by security personnel.
The association termed the incident as unfair treatment of dairy farmers’ leadership and a restriction on their right to free expression. It stated that it was unfortunate that representatives invited to discuss solutions to the country’s 79-year agricultural and dairy crisis were not allowed to complete even a few minutes of their remarks.
DCFA Pakistan has demanded that the official invitation email and the complete video recording of the conference be used as evidence to conduct an independent and impartial inquiry through a neutral institution. It further stated that if mismanagement or abuse of authority is proven, strict disciplinary action should be taken against the responsible officials.
The association also emphasized that farmers’ participation in dairy and livestock policymaking should not be symbolic but institutionalized, so that policymaking can move forward on the basis of partnership and mutual respect.
