PESHAWAR: Markets remained closed across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday as traders observed complete shutter down strike against withholding tax on bank transactions.

The protesters warned they would stop dealing with banks if the federal government didn’t withdraw the tax.

In Peshawar, traders kelp shops and markets closed on the call of Markazi Anjuman Tajiran.

Observe shutter down strike, threaten to stop dealing with banks

Banners were put up across markets against the imposition of bank transaction tax.

While visiting markets in city and cantonment areas, Markazi Anjuman Tajiran Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Haji Sharafat Ali Mubarak said all traders of the province were united against the tax imposed on withdrawal of cash valuing Rs50,000 and more from banks.

Accompanied by other office-bearers of the association including Shaukat Ali Khan, Waris Khan Afridi, Nisar Ahmad Khan, Waqar Ahmad, Mohammad Naeem, Nadeem Rauf, Mr Sharafat said though the government had agreed to halve the bank transaction tax to 0.3 per cent after holding talks with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, traders didn’t accept it too considering it unjustified.

He said withholding tax on such bank transactions should be withdrawn altogether.

“We are not bound to accept the FPCCI decisions because we as the representatives of traders, have to protect the interests of our own community,” he said.

The association’s president warned if the federal government didn’t withdraw withholding tax, traders would stop dealing with banks and close their bank accounts.

“Today’s was a one-day strike. If the (federal) government fails to respond to our demand positively, we, the traders, will finalise the next line of action in few days,” he said.

Mr Sharafat said traders paid taxes regularly and supported the government’s efforts to expand its tax net but even then, they’re being made to pay withholding tax on bank transactions.

He said all bank account holders should support the traders’ strike as the withholding tax had been imposed on all of those dealing with banks.

“Members of the salaried class will be worst hit by this tax. We request all bank account holders to join hands with traders against the bank transaction tax,” he said.

Also in the day, members of the local vegetable market associations led by Malik Sohni staged a demonstration and blocked Inqilab Road by burning old tyres.

They shouted slogans against the federal government, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Federal Board of Revenue and demanded the immediate withdrawal of bank transaction tax to ease their misery.

Shopkeepers of Karkhano Markets in the city too observed a complete strike and showed solidarity with countrywide trader organisations against the withholding tax.

Trader leader Sameen Afridi said Karkhano Markets shopkeepers would full support other trader unions of the country against the tax.

In Mansehra, Abbottabad and Batagram, too, local markets observed complete shutter-down strike on the call of Markazi Anjuman Tajiran.

The traders warned they would begin a civil disobedience movement if the bank transaction tax was not withdrawn.

“We will not accept tax on bank transactions at any cost,” said Hafiz Ijaz, president of the regional body of traders.

Mr Ijaz said the federal government was forcing traders to close bank accounts and use other means of money transfer by insisting on the imposition of the withholding tax.

He said traders of big markets had turned to ‘hundi’ system for transactions soon after the imposition of the new tax.

The trader leader said the government was subjecting traders to unjustified tax to meet expenditure of their luxuries.

A complete shutter-down strike was also observed in Balakot, Batagram, Oghi, Shinkiari and adjoining areas.

The protesting traders warned they would agitate if the tax was not withdrawn immediately.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2015

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