MINGORA: A jirga here on Sunday unanimously rejected the enforcement of the Customs Act and imposition of taxes in Malakand Division and threatened to launch a protest against the federal and provincial governments.
The representatives of political parties, traders’ organizations, chambers of commerce, civil society groups and others attended the jirga.The grand jirga was organized by the Traders Federation and the Swat Chamber of Commerce at a hotel in Mingora. The gathering was attended by political leaders, traders and social activists from across the division.
Opposition leader in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Dr Ibadullah, Abdul Rahim, former Mardan mayor Himayatullah Mayar, Ishaq Zahid, PMLN leader Wajid Ali Khan, QWP’s Fazal Rahman Nono, former Mingora mayor Shahid Ali Khan, JI leader Muhammad Amin, Malakand Chamber of Commerce representative Inam Khan, Bajaur Chamber of Commerce representative Lali Shah, Khalid Mahmood Gujar, JUIF leader Muhammad Ejaz Khan, PTIP provincial president Habib Ali Shah, Malik Akram Khan, ANP leader Sher Shah Khan, Swat Chamber of Commerce President Noor Muhammad Khan and others attended the jirga.
Addressing the gathering, speakers rejected the implementation of the Customs Act in the Malakand Division, terming the recent increase in sales tax and the imposition of a two percent income tax unacceptable.
They argued that people, traders, and industrialists of the region were already under severe economic pressure and could not bear any additional financial burden.The participants demanded that the special constitutional status of Malakand Division be protected and vowed to launch a campaign against the imposition of federal taxes in the region. Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah said that his party rejected the imposition of income taxes in Malakand Division and would raise its voice for the protection of the region’s rights at every forum.
