MINGORA: A shutter down and wheel-jam strike was observed and rallies were held across the Malakand division on Wednesday against the imposition of Customs Act, 1969, in the region.

In Swat district, all main markets and bazaars remained closed. Members of traders’ association, political workers, lawyers, transporters and general public gathered at the main Bazaar in Mingora and held a rally organised by All Parties Action Committee.

Addressing the procession, speakers criticised the provincial and federal governments for extending the Customs Act to Malakand division.

“Both the federal and provincial governments are not sincere with the people of Malakand and are equally responsible for imposition of Customs Act, but they must know that people of Malakand will never bow to the decision,” said Abdur Rahim, president of Swat traders’ federation.

Provincial, federal governments blamed for adding to misery of already suffering people

TIMERGARA: A complete shutter down strike against imposition of Customs Act was observed in all big and small bazaars and markets in Lower Dir. The traders’ community closed shops at Chakdara, Talash, Timergara, Khall, Rabat, Munda, Mayar, Samar Bagh and Kumbar on the call of Malakand action committee.

Anjuman Tajaran Timergara president Anwar ud Din thanked his community across the district for heeding to the strike call. Talking to journalists, he said people of Malakand division would never accept the government decision to impose Customs Act in the region.

The members of the district council also held a protest rally against the extension of the Customs Act to Malakand.

Councillors led by district nazim Mohammad Rasool Khan and naib nazim Abdul Rashid came out of the council hall and marched on the road from Balambat to Timergara Press Club. They were chanting slogans against the imposition of Customs Act.

SHANGLA: Transporters and traders observed a wheel-jam and shutter down strike and took out rallies to protest against the imposition of Customs Act in Malakand.

Shangla action committee organised a demonstration in Alpuri, which was also participated by political leaders. The protesters marched from Lelawnai road to Alpuri chowk, chanting slogans against imposition of the Customs Act.

Similarly, in Chakesar, Puran, Shahpur, Damorai, Bely Baba, and Bisham city people staged protest rallies and blocked roads against the decision. Trade centres and markets remained closed across the district.

BUNER: Traders observed a complete shutter down strike and held a demonstration at College Chowk against the imposition of the Customs Act. They marched through the main Swari Bazaar, carrying banners and shouting slogans against the government. Political activists also joined the protesters.

The protesters said people of Malakand division were already suffering due to unemployment, excessive loadshedding, militancy, earthquakes and floods, and the federal government, by extending the Customs Act to Malakand division, had added to their misery.

UPPER DIR: A complete shutter down strike against the extension of Customs Act to the region was observed in Upper Dir on Wednesday.

All bazaars remained closed on the call of Malakand traders union and action committee of All Parties Conference.

The political activists, lawyers, transporters and traders staged protests across the district in this regard.

The traders carrying black flags and shouting slogans for withdrawal of the Customs Act said they would strongly oppose the enforcement of the law in Malakand region.

BATKHELA: Traders and political parties organised a rally in Batkhela, headquarters of Malakand district, to protest against the imposition of Customs Act in Malakand.

The protesters marched on the road which links Batkhela with Peshawar, carrying placards and chanting slogans against the government decision.

CHITRAL: Rallies were held in Chitral and other towns of the district and a complete shutter down strike was observed against the imposition of taxes in the impoverished Malakand Division, particularly disaster-prone Chitral district.

Traders and political parties took out processions and marched on roads to oppose the government’s decision to impose taxes in the region.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2016