MINGORA: The traders backed by political parties observed a shutter down strike across Malakand division against the Customs Act 1969 for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

Also, thousands of people gathered at Nishat Chowk here to protest the government’s decision to extend the customs law to their region. The shutter down strike was called by the Swat Traders Federation.

A multi-party conference was also held here, where representatives of political parties, transporters association, bar association, private school management association, bargain association, doctors association, industries association and marble factories association, and people from other walks of life, showed up in large numbers.

The speakers rejected the extension of the Customs Act to Malakand division and said the local residents would never allow the provincial and federal governments to collect any sort of tax in the region.

JUI-F leader Maulana Rahat Hussain said in 1969, the region’s elders gifted the most beautiful and resourceful states to Pakistan but instead of acknowledging that great act, the government had tried to multiply the misery of local residents by extending the customs law to Malakand.

Shamsher Ali Khan of the PPP said the local residents were opposed to any taxation in the region and would resist the enforcement of the customs law.

Dr. Khalid Mahmood of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party said on one hand, the entire nation acknowledged the sacrifices of Swati people but on the other, the government was stressing them out by imposing taxes.

“All the elected representatives from Malakand must boycott assemblies and tender resignations against the imposition of the Customs Act,” he said.

Fazal Rehman Nono of the Qaumi Watan Party said the people of Swat stood united for their rights and would never accept the customs law in the region. MPA and DDAC chairman Fazal Hakim said he would lead the movement to protect the rights of Swat people.

All through the day, all major markets and bazaars in all seven tehsils of Swat district, including Mingora, remained closed against the extension of the Customs Act to Malakand division.

In Shangla district, too, a complete shutter-down strike was observed.

The bazaars in Shangla, Alpuri, Puran, Shapoor, Puran, Chakesar, Martung, Dandai, Karora, Dehrai and Bely Baba areas remained closed throughout the day. All private schools also kept their campuses closed, while the district bar association boycotted the court proceedings.

The anti-customs law protests were also in reported in Besham, Alpuri, Puran, Chakesar, Karora and Shapoor.

In Upper Dir, lawyers boycotted the court proceedings and said they would continue pressuring the government to withdraw order on the Malakand division customs law.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2016