SHANGLA: Political leadership in Shangla staged a protest at district headquarters Alpuri against the imposition of sales tax on Sand at Maira Bisham sand collection sites, the transporters strike entered into the fourth week.
Political leaders from Pakistan Tehrik-I-Insaf, Pakistan People Party, Awami National Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamiat-Ulema-Islam-F, and other parties were gathered at outside the deputy commissioner office in Alpuri the other day for agitation.
Member National Assembly from NA-10 Shangla Ibadullah Khan led the protest, while transporters and landlords of sand sites also took part in the agitation.
MNA Ibadullah, Said, there is no government order to impose taxes in the Malakand division but the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mineral department aunctioned the Sand sites without even taking the landlords and now contractor asking for taxes from the transporters.
“The Chief Minister, mineral department minister both are from Swat Malakand division, how and why they imposed taxes in Malakand division on Sand though the previous government extended the tax exemption for five years till 2023,” MNA, said.
He said, it was strange that the government has imposed taxes on people’s own lands but PTI’s government using tactics to receive taxes from the Sand suppliers.
MNA further said that they give a week deadline to the provincial government to withdraw the decision of imposition sales tax on Sand which is unlawful and injustice.
“We will be stand by our people against tax imposition, if government-imposed taxes despite the extension of Malakand division tax exemption special status till 2023,” Waqar Ahmed Khan, PTI’s senior leader, said.
He said, they would hold a meeting with the mineral department minister in this regard to sort out this issue.
Sadeed Ur Rehman, former candidate NA-10, said, gathering at district headquarters Alpuri was meant to give a message to law enforcement agencies, administration and government to end their injustice with the local people because imposition of taxes will directly affect poverty-stricken people.
He said, if suddenly per trip sand rate increased up to Rs4000 how a poverty struck man can buy sand for their house construction, we can never accept these taxes at any cost.
“We appealed the additional deputy commissioner to cancel the auction of sand collection sites because it was against the public interest. Government rate for each site was Rs 04 million which now the contractor increased to Rs 40 million, which totally injustice with the sand suppliers of Maira Bisham and Martung Puran,” He alleged.
Muhammad Yaar Khan, ANP leader said, they will no give a single penny as tax to any department unless law was not enacted of imposition taxes in Malakand division.
He said, Malakand division people are already affected by terrorism and natural disasters and local people suffering from financial crises.
Former tehsil Nazim Alpuri, Muhammad Tahir Khan, said that they are ready to go to jail and not afraid of any resistance, if anyone came for asking taxes they would resist him and now its time to end the strike and start the sand supply business which had been badly affected due to the strike.
The protesters on the occasion, set a week deadline to the government to withdraw the decision otherwise from the upcoming Sunday they would start full-fledge agitation against the provincial government.
