Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday called for the immediate withdrawal of the decision to impose taxes in Malakand Division, saying the region’s people, along with those in the erstwhile tribal districts, were already facing poverty, insecurity and economic hardships.
Addressing an all parties conference organised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Chakdara against the tax imposition, the Governor said the people of the region could not bear any additional financial burden due to limited employment opportunities, lack of industries and slow pace of development. He urged Chief Minister, as the province’s chief executive, to play an effective role in getting the decision reversed. He said if the chief minister was unable to resolve the issue, he should state it clearly so that he himself could pursue the matter.
The Governor called upon all political parties, the business community and the people of Malakand Division to launch a united constitutional and democratic struggle against the tax decision. He also said the federal government’s announced Rs100 billion development package for the erstwhile FATA had yet to be implemented and called for immediate action in this regard.
Kundi also criticised the provincial government’s proposed media law, saying a free press was the voice of the people and could not be suppressed through legislation.
The conference was attended by leaders of various political parties, traders’ bodies and civil society, including provincial and former federal ministers, who unanimously rejected the tax decision and vowed to continue a peaceful, constitutional and democratic campaign until it was withdrawn. They also agreed to adopt a joint strategy on the issue.
PMLN divisional president and Former provincial minister Malik Jahanzeb, former minister of state Shahabuddin, Awami National Party provincial secretary general Hussain Shah Khan Yousafzai, former governor Shaukatullah Khan, PPP central secretary general Engineer Humayun Khan, and PPP KP president Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha attended the conference. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf KP president Junaid Akbar, former federal minister Najmuddin Khan, former minister of state Malik Azmat Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam district chief Sirajuddin, former provincial minister Shah Raz Khan, and Malakand Division Trade Union president Abdul Rahim were also present.