Islamabad: Islamabad police fired tear gas and used water canons to disperse angry farmers, who were demanding their due right and relief in the federal budget, being presented.

Police arrested more than 20 farmers in their 50s, protesting under the auspices of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad, for pelting stones at police at D-Chowk of the capital.

The police fired tear gas and used water canons to disperse them, moving them towards Jinnah Avenue. The farmers said they would not accept an anti-farmer budget. “We will die even at the roads but will not endorse the budget,” they said.

“Recommendations are presented in the budget but none of them are implemented,” said one of the protesters. “We work hard but cannot survive.”

They said policies for growers are formulated by those who do not even know about the basics of agriculture. The farmer demanded the government abolish taxes on agriculture and fix the prices of commodities.

Moreover, Metro Bus service was suspended in the federal capital due to the protest.

Opposition leader in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah also joined the protest.

Speaking on the occasion, Shah said farmers strengthen economy but they are not facilitated by the rulers.

The chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has condemned the crackdown on peasants and farmers in Islamabad and termed it a dictatorial action by the Nawaz Sharif government.

Announcing his support for the protest and demands of farmers, the Bhutto Zardari said the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) government has proved to be the worst enemy of agriculture, which is continuously registering minus growth under the current government.

He said that shelling and baton charges on innocent farmers are part of the Sharif brothers’ anti-farmers policy as they have been ignoring and even facilitating protests by banned organisations in the capital city.

“The brutal torture against the farmers in Islamabad has again exposed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar as a remnant of dictatorships,” he added.

Bhutto Zardari said farmers always prospered during PPP governments but Nawaz Sharif had snatched their smiles away. Farmers demanding Bardana in Islamabad have every right to exercise their democratic right to protest against injustices, he added.

He added that his party would restore the rights of farmers after coming into power and would continue to promote and stabilise agriculture sector.