SWABI, Nov 5: The chairman of the Swabi Qaumi Mahaz and MPA-elect, Dr Salim, has said that his party will hold a protest march on Friday against the toll tax being collected on the Swabi-Mardan Road.

Talking to a delegation of transporters on Tuesday, he said the provincial government should abolish the toll tax for which a plaza had been constructed by the district government of Mardan near Bagheecha Dheri on Swabi-Mardan Road.

He pointed out that the government had announced abolition of the tax plaza but, he regretted, three months later the contractor was again called to collect toll tax from transporters. He criticized the decision and said that even the tonga-owners were not spared. The transporters termed the toll tax unjust and said that they would not pay it.

They said the tax contractor charged Rs15 from each truck and bus on every trip; Rs12 from coach and pick-up; Rs10 from each car and Rs3 from tonga.

They said that if the government failed to remove the toll tax plaza they might divert their vehicles to other routes.

Dr Salim said transporters would march from Shewa Adda to the toll tax plaza.