PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party submitted an adjournment motion to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday seeking debate on imposition of customs act in Malakand division.

ANP parliamentary leader Sardar Hussain Babak submitted the motion to hold general discussion on the subject, according to a press release.

The motion recalled that before merger of princely states, including the then Wali-i-Swat, Nawab of Dir and Prince of Chitral, with the government of Pakistan an agreement was signed that customs act and income tax would not be imposed on the people of these areas till 2060.

It said that the militancy had badly affected Malakand division and Kohistan, therefore, the government instead of withdrawing financial incentives should announce more packages and development plans for the violence-hit areas of the province.

Mr Babak said in his motion that imposition of the customs act had increased difficulties for the people of Malakand and local people had launched protest movement. He said that traders and civil society groups were also condemning the decision.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2016