He described that the proposed levy on tobacco is insult to the highly religious and conservative farmers of KP. He added the move only aims at to appease some INGO without keeping in mind the critical importance of tobacco crop for the poor farmers of KP. He further said that it is a conspiracy against elected government to give negative image among public and especially farmers of KPK.
Tobacco farmer's representatives, Professor Hamid ur Rehman, Anwar Sher, Abdul Salam, Shahid Zubair, Zubair Muhammad, Babar Khan, Sajid Khan. Fazal Qadir, Khan Muhammad, Tariq Sial, Naqeeb Khan, Shad Khan from Manshera, Buner, Swabi, Charsada and Mardan were present during the press conference.
Rustam Khan said that tobacco crop is one of the major crops in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and bread and butter of thousands of people are directly and indirectly attached with this sector. He maintained that about 85 per cent of tobacco crop being harvested in KP and the farmers are harvesting this crop for last many decades.
He furthermore informed that as many as 75,000 farmers were directly attached to tobacco cultivation and almost 240,000 people are directly and indirectly financially dependent on this crop. "We are facing social pressures from their families and social circles, which portray their bread and butter as "haram" and illegal. Government or any NGO have no right to give decision that either one thing is sinful or not, the growers' leader said.
He vowed that they will not allow few elements in federal health ministry and NGOs to make fun of Islam. He criticized comments of a senior official of health ministry on private TV channel that Islam is nothing to do with "Sawab" or Gunnah". Farmers termed these remarks as equal to making fun of Islam.
Tobacco farmers demanded stern actions against the official who commented on a private TV channel regarding sin and Islam relationship. They also demanded that Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan should take notice of equalizing farmers with sinners and bootleggers. 'If our demands are not considered and government continue to insult farmers and their families, then we will start protests in whole province', they added.