MANSEHRA, June 3: In view of the strong protest lodged by traders, transporter and general public, the tehsil council Mansehra has constituted a 13-member committee, including four councillors, to review the imposition of taxes proposed to be levied by the municipal administration.

More than 40 members in the 50-member house vehemently opposed and rejected the imposition of new taxes at a special meeting of the tehsil council held here the other day to take a final decision on the issue.

Those who strongly opposed the tax proposals included Syed Munir Hussain Shah, Naib Nazim of UC Mansehra city No.1, Attique-ur-Rehman Jehangiri of UC city No.2, Malik Mushtaq Kathana of UC city No.3, Ishtiaq Awan of UC Datta and others, who threatened to resign en bloc if the proposed taxes were not withdrawn.

They said it was a conspiracy to create resentment among the masses against the local government system and imposition of new taxes would be resisted at all levels.

They said people were already burdened with heavy taxation and were facing a lot of hardships because of price-hike and unemployment, and levying of new taxes would only add to the miseries of the masses.

The convener of the house, Ejaz Akhtar Khan, and the chairman of the taxation committee, Iqbal Awan, however, intervened and enumerated a number of financial problems being faced by the TMA.

They laid stress on the imposition of new taxes without which, they said, the business of the TMA could not be run smoothly. However, the angry members created a rumpus in the house and started protesting against the levying of new taxes.

The tehsil Nazim, Farooq Khan, intervened and on his suggestion a 13-member committee, including four women councillors, was constituted for reviewing the imposition of proposed new taxes.

However, majority of members was still not satisfied with the assurances and vowed to resist all moves aimed at levying new taxes and licence fee.

Meanwhile, the traders and transporters have also warned against levying of new taxes.

They are of the view that instead of levying new taxes, the TMA should utilize other resources to generate its income and should not overburden the traders, shopkeepers and the general public by levying new taxes.