LOWER DIR: The local traders, political activists, transporters and petrol pump owners on Monday demanded of the government to refrain from imposing Customs Act in the district.

They also threatened to observe complete shutdown and wheel jam if 25 sealed filling stations were not reopened. They made the demand during a meeting with the local administration in Timergara.

JI’s Haji Fazal Wahab, PPP’s Advocate Alamzeb, People Youth Organisation leader Fazal Hussain, ANP’s Malik Mohammadzeb, representative of contractors Imran Takur, PML-N’s Malik Farooq Iqbal, Anjuman Tajaran Timergara president Haji Anwarud Din and Lower Dir Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mian Noor Alam met Additional Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmad at his office.

They informed the official that Malakand division had been declared tax-free zone till 2023 and the government had no right to impose any kind of tax in the region.

They said that the administration and customs officials sealed 25 filling stations in the district during a week that was tantamount to financial killing of local businessmen. They demanded of the government to abolish Customs Act in the area otherwise they would take to streets.

Also in the day, the Adenzai elders and opposition leaders condemned banning mining on the riverbank and sealing crushing plants by the administration in the area. The truckers and workers of crushing plants and block factory held a protest demonstration in Chakdara against sealing the crushing plant and banning mining on the riverbanks.

Speaking on the occasion, PPP leader Bakht Baidar Khan, ANP leader Wasil Khan and others demanded of the government to stop action against the crushing plants.

They said that people of the area were affected by disasters while thousands of overseas Pakistanis returned home due to Covid-19. GQM: Gujjar Qaumi Movement (GQM) chief Haji Zarin Khan Gujjar has appealed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take notice of increase in corruption, inflation and unemployment in the country.

Talking to journalists in Talash, he alleged that National Accountability Bureau was being used to politically victimise PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

He announced that the GQM would field candidates in all the constituencies of Dir, Swat, Buner, Shangla and Kohistan during the next local government elections.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2021