Upper Dir Shuts Down as Traders, Political Parties Protest Malakand Taxes -

Syed Zahid Jan

UPPER DIR: On the call of the Traders Association Malakand Division, a successful complete shutterdown strike was observed across Upper Dir district on. Traders, political leaders, and citizens outrightly rejected the imposition of taxes in Malakand Division and demanded their immediate withdrawal.
According to Khalid Iqbal, Central President traders union of Dir Bazar, following the call of Division President Abdul Rahim, led the strike.
All Major and small bazaars and markets in the district’s six tehsils ,Dir, Wari, Barawal, Sheringal, Larjam, and Kalkot remained completely closed.
Speakers Addresses Gathering at Dir Chowk
A large gathering was held at Dir Bazar Chowk where the following leaders addressed the protesters
Khalid Iqbal- President Anjuman Tajiran, Arifullah – PPP President, Fasihullah – Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami, Nisar Khan- PML-N President, Imran Saeed – PTI General Secretary, Azam Khan of ANP, Mufti Ijaz JUI, Israr Yousafzai, Nizamuddin and others.
“Unjust Taxes Not Acceptable”
The speakers said that the imposition of unjustified taxes on the people of Malakand Division is unacceptable under any circumstances.
They stated that their parties *stand shoulder to shoulder with the public, traders, and working class, and will raise their voice at every forum to protect their *constitutional and legal rights.
They added that the people of Malakand Division have always pursued a peaceful struggle for their rights, and this struggle will continue until the unjust taxes imposed on the public are withdrawn.
Traders and political leaders said, “First, we are citizens. We stand with the public on every front.
They clarified that there is no politics on this issue. They stand with the public and traders like a solid wall against the imposition of unjust taxes in Malakand Division.
They warned that if the Federal Government does not withdraw the tax, the next phase of protest will include a “wheel-jam strike”, sit-ins, and a march toward Islamabad.

They urged the Federal Government to “come to its senses”, withdraw the tax, and restore the pre-2018 PATA/FATA status for Malakand Division.