FAISALABAD, July 4: Residents of villages of Narwala Road, Millat Road and Pansera Road staged a demonstration in front of the Zila Council Complex in protest against the imposition of toll tax on roads of their areas here on Monday. The protesters carrying banners and placards came to the city on tractor-trolleys, wagons and buses. They raised slogans against the district administration for step-motherly treatment to the villagers.

They staged a sit-in at the Kutchery Chowk and demanded the chief minister to order for the immediate withdrawal of toll tax.

They said the district government had imposed toll tax on major roads during announcement of budget for 2004-05.

However, due to protest by the elected representatives and villagers, the local government withdrew the toll tax from major roads.

They claimed that they were assured by the defunct Nazim and other senior officials to withdraw toll in fiscal 2005-06. But the government did not implement the decision.

They said the Punjab local government and rural development department had also declared the toll tax as illegal and asked the local councils not to charge the people.