After Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the business community in Malakand Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also started protesting against the imposition of taxes.
According to details, there is a complete shutter-down and a wheel-jam strike on Tuesday against the abolition of the special status of Malakand division and the imposition of taxes. All small and large trading centres are closed across the division, including Swat, Dir, Buner, Timergara, Chakdara, Talash and Khal, on the call of the Malakand Division Traders Federation.
On the other hand, the Private Schools Management Association has also announced the closure of private schools today, while lawyers across the division are also supporting the protest and are boycotting court proceedings.
Also Read: Shutter-down strike announced in Malakand division tomorrow
According to the traders' federation, the Malakand division was declared tax-free for 100 years under an agreement in 1979. Imposing the proposed taxes was a violation of the treaty. The government should postpone its decision regarding the implementation of taxes, they demanded.
Traders' leader Abdul Raheem warned that if the government did not extend the tax exemption, they will observe a wheel-jam strike.
On the other hand, the Awami Joint Action Committee in Azad Jammu and Kashmir announced the end of their protests and strike after the government accepted their demands. The processions of protesters started to return to their respective areas.
Protests in other areas of KP
Meanwhile, protests have also broken out in other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against various 'injustices', including taxes and load shedding.
In DI Khan, residents took to the streets to protest against the collection of tax at the Dara Pizzo Toll Plaza. The demonstrators blocked the Indus Highway, disrupting traffic flow and causing long queues of vehicles on both sides of the road. Protesters allege that toll tax was being collected illegally at the toll plaza, prompting their outcry against the authorities.
In North Waziristan, tribals expressed their frustration over 22-hour load shedding in the region. Local government representatives and a significant number of citizens joined the protest. Protesters lamented that only two hours of electricity are being provided throughout the district.
The demonstrators in both regions have vowed to continue their protests until their demands are met.
