Lahore: As farmers gathered outside the Punjab Assembly to voice their grievances over the delayed purchase of wheat by the Punjab government, they were met with a forceful police response, including crackdowns and arrests.

Intending to stage a sit-in protest at Faisal Chowk, near the provincial legislative assembly, the farmers were prevented from doing so by the police, who employed baton charges to disperse them.

Mian Umair, President of Kisan Ittehad, expressed concern over the arrests of their members and the hindrance of their protest plans. He highlighted the genuine concerns of the farmers regarding the delayed procurement and adverse weather conditions.

Kisan Ittehad, led by Vice President Sabir Niaz Kombuh, had called for the sit-in protest in response to the government's failure to initiate wheat procurement, drawing farmers from various cities to Lahore in solidarity.

Several political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Peoples' Party, and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), voiced their support for the farmers and criticized the government's policies and crackdowns.

In a show of solidarity, opposition members of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), backed by PTI, staged a walkout from the provincial assembly and protested against the government's actions.

Police presence outside the Punjab Assembly was intensified, with the deployment of prisoner vans and water cannons to deter the farmers from staging the sit-in. President Mumtaz Daulatana of the Kashtkar (Farmers) Foundation Punjab was already in police custody.

Security measures were heightened at entry points to Lahore, such as Thokar Niaz Baig, and surveillance was increased at the Motorway M-3 Interchange to prevent farmers from reaching the city.

While some farmers managed to evade arrest by traveling individually, a group of students expressing solidarity with the farmers was dispersed by the police, who warned of strict action.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari reaffirmed the government's commitment to genuine farmer representatives, denying any arrests of farmers' representatives. She condemned the politicization of the wheat issue by certain parties and emphasized the need to protect farmers' interests.

Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmad Khan, assured farmers that their concerns would be addressed, emphasizing the importance of dialogue with relevant organizations and stakeholders.

Islamabad: Ambassador of UAE to Pakistan  Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi called on Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja here on Monday.

Matters of mutual interest  and relating to IT & Telecom sector, digitalization, cybersecurity and innovation were discussed in the meeting, said a news release.

The two sides agreed to increase cooperation in the field of IT & Telecom.

The meeting was also attended by Member IT Syed Junaid Imam and DG International Coordination Syed Jawwad Ali Sherazi.

Rawalpindi: Commander Turkish Land Forces, General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Syed Asim Munir here at General Headquarters on Monday and appreciated the role of Pakistan Army in ensuring peace and stability in the region.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that during the meeting, matters of mutual interest and measures to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation were discussed.

However, they expressed satisfaction over deep-rooted relations between the two countries, based on historic, cultural and religious affinity. The COAS emphasized the need to further strengthen existing military to military cooperation between the two Armed Forces. Earlier on arrival at GHQ, the Commander Turkish Land Forces, laid wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army presented the guard of honour to the visiting dignitary.