DERA GHAZI KHAN: More than two-month long peaceful strike by revenue patwaris for the acceptance of their charter of demands may turn violent after the suspension of their tehsil president by the district commissioner, sources told Dawn.

Patwaris have been on strike across Punjab for the approvalof their charter of demands, such as their induction into the computerised revenue system in place of non-revenue staff at the land record computer centre.

Patwaris held a provincial level convention last weel( in Dera Ghazi Khan where delegation from Punjab were present.

They showed concerns at revenue policies by the chief minister.

The government retali-are d when DC Allah Rakha Anjum issued the suspension order of Anjumn-iPatwarian Tehsil President Rana Sajjad Ahmed for not attending a breach in the Dera Ghazi Khan canal despite being called by the DC.

The district president of the patwaris union of Dera Ghazi Khan, Ghulam Shabbir, said to protesters at their tehsil office that they warned the DC that such measure would force them to a provincial level agitation.

He said the DC had not punished the actual negligent irrigation officials responsible for the breach and instead suspended the leader of patwaris who had delivered a speech against the Punjab government at the convention taking pledge from patwaris not to vote the PML-N.

He said patwatris would continue their agitation against the DC.