PESHAWAR: Traders in the provincial capital observed a complete strike and took out rallies and didn’t deal with banks on Wednesday against the 0.6 percent withholding tax on all banking transactions.

Shopping malls, markets and bazaars in Peshawar city and cantonment areas remained closed, while trader leaders visited various areas to ensure the success of the strike.

The parking lots in the limits of Saddar Bazaar also wore a deserted look due to the strike.

However, tea stalls, some restaurants and shops operated by Afghan nationals remained opened in some corners of the city.

Traders to observe strike on Oct 7 again

Demonstrations, rallies and meetings were held in protest camps separately in the city and Saddar areas, where the speakers expressed concern about the 0.6 percent withholding tax on banking transactions and vowed to observe complete strike on Oct 7 against the tax.

Adopting resolutions, the traders demanded that the government withdraw banking transaction tax and extend support to business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which had suffered huge financial losses due to terrorism over the last many years.

A rally in the city area was led by representatives of trade unions, including Anjuman-i-Tajiran provincial president Haji Haleem Jan, Shaukat Ali Khan, Haji Afzal, Mujeebur Rehman, Shakeel Ahmad Khan and Ihtesham Haleem.

It was taken out from Khyber Bazaar and went through different bazaars on Ashraf Road and in Sikandarpura before reaching GT Road, where the speakers said traders wouldn’t pay banking transaction tax and would resist its imposition at all costs.

The protesters shouted against the government over the withholding tax’s imposition.

“We’re ready to resort to ‘jail bharo tehreek’ to besiege FBR offices and stop dealing with banks on permanent basis,” a trader warned.

The traders urged the government to withdraw its decision on the 0.6 percent withholding tax on banking transactions saying they can’t afford payment of the ‘unjustified’ tax and would remain firmly united to oppose it.

Also in the day, traders of Saddar area held a separate protest camp and rally, which was led by former president of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Haji Sharafat Ali Mubarak.

They rejected the new tax outright declaring it against the interests of traders and public as well.

The protesters holding banners and placards marched through bazaars and shouted slogans against the withholding tax on banking transactions.

“The imposition of new tax by a democratically-elected government is beyond imagination. We will not accept the decision,” Sharafat Ali Mubarak said, asking the government to avoid annoying traders and immediately withdraw the tax.

The business community, he said would also observe complete strike on Oct 7 and would decide the next line of action”

“We may also take a decision against all kinds of taxes after Eidul Azha,” he said.

Sharafat warned the Sept 9 strike was like a referendum against the banking transaction tax as all trade unions irrespective of affiliations committed to opposing the federal government for imposing new taxes.

He said the government should reverse its decision and remove unrest among the people, especially traders, otherwise they would stop dealing with banks.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play