SWAT: Jamaat-e-Islami Swat announced a sit-in at Chakdara Interchange on June 2, rejecting the government’s decision to implement the Customs Act and Income Tax in Malakand Division. If the government does not accept the demands, they will be forced to protest in front of the Governor House and Parliament.
These views were expressed by Acting Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Swat, Dr. Khalid Farooq, along with Naib Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Swat Akhtar Ali Khan, General Secretary Haider Ali Khan and Naib Amir Mingora Mohammad Naeemullah here on Thursday at Al-Khidmat-ul-Islamia Mingora in Swat District.
Dr Khalid Farooq said that the people of Swat district and Malakand division have been suffering from natural calamities in the form of earthquakes and floods including terrorism for the past two decades.Due to which the entire infrastructure of the area is badly affected and the cost has been compensated by the back-breaking inflation.
“The people of Malakand division are forced to live below the poverty line and added that there is neither industrial zone nor employment opportunities in Malakand division. While in these circumstances, the government is also trying to put the burden of taxes on the people here,” Dr Farooq said.
They demanded from the government that in the context of the situation, the decision to impose tax in Malakand division should be immediately withdrawn and exemption should be given for another 10 years, and during this time immediate steps should be taken to restore the damaged infrastructure of Malakand division and provide basic facilities of life.
“The government should take the elders of the area, political leadership and other stakeholders into confidence before deciding to implement the tax,” They said.
They further said that the decision to impose a unilateral tax will not be accepted in any case and if anyone tries to be adventurous then Jamaat-e-Islami will strongly resist it.
They clarified that the federal budget is being presented on June 7. Our demand is that the government withdraw the decision to impose tax in Malakand division before this, otherwise Jamaat-e-Islami will hold a sit-in against it at Chakdara Interchange on June 2nd at 4 pm. In which lawyers, business community, transporters and other civil society have been invited to participate.
They made it clear that the government should leave the arbitrariness and immediately withdraw the levy of tax in Malakand division in public interest. If the government decides to be stubborn, then a sit-in will be held in front of the Governor House and the Parliament House.
On the other hand, District Bar Association Swat President Faheem Naeem Advocate, Swat Chamber of Commerce President Rahat Ali Khan, Swat Hotels Association Swat President Haji Zahid Khan and All Swat Motor Bargain Association President Akbar Ali declared their support for Jamaat-e-Islami at Chakdara Interchange on June 2 and announced to participate in the demonstration of full force.
