KOHAT: Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, president Malik Mehr Elahi has assailed the ‘forced’ taxation on traders by the Federal Board of Revenue.

He was speaking to leaders of local traders’ bodies after arriving in Kohat on Sunday.

On arrival, Mr Elahi was received by Kohat Qaumi Tehreek chairman Ameer Khan Afridi, Tajir action committee president Haji Abid, All Kohat Tajir Ittehad president Hafeezuddin Qureshi and others.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Elahi said in the absence of any law to control rising rates of real estate, the rents of shops had gone up to Rs60,000 to Rs100,000. Similarly, he said rate of a small shop had risen to Rs40 million in the main bazaars.

He said the traders would form committees at the district level to resist the ‘anti-business’ policies of the government.

TWO HELD, HASHISH SEIZED: The police on Sunday arrested two persons, including a policeman, while smuggling 25 kilogrammes of hashish from Orakzai district in a car.

Cantonment police SHO Ayatullah Khan said his team stopped a car near Ublan area, and during search, found hashish hidden in its secret cavities.

He identified the traffickers as Mohammad Asif, a constable of Darra Adamkhel tribal subdivision, and Muzammal Khan of Togh Bala, Kohat.

A case was registered against them.

Meanwhile, district police officer Mohammad Suleman has suspended the Darra policeman for smuggling contraband.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2022