Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North has opposed the implementation of taxes in Malakand Division, urging both the federal and provincial governments to withdraw all proposed taxes in the region. The party also called on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to abolish provincial taxes on services as a demonstration of its commitment to the issue.
Addressing a press conference at the Jamaat-e-Islami district headquarters in Lower Dir, JI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North Ameer and former Senior Provincial Minister Inayatullah Khan said political parties, traders, business groups and civil society across Malakand Division were united in opposing the tax measures.
JI Urges Provincial Government To Remove Taxes
Inayatullah Khan said the provincial government should abolish sales tax and other provincial taxes on services if it wanted to strengthen its position in negotiations with the federal government.
He announced that a grand jirga had been convened at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar on Friday to discuss the issue, adding that a Jamaat-e-Islami delegation would participate in the meeting.
Concerns Over Public Services
The former minister argued that taxes are generally imposed where citizens receive adequate public services. He said residents of Malakand Division continue to face poor road infrastructure, limited healthcare and education facilities, electricity load-shedding, higher electricity meter installation charges and security challenges.
He also questioned the collection of taxes while, according to him, basic public services remained inadequate.
Security And Compensation Demands
Commenting on the recent security situation in Malakand Division, Inayatullah Khan described the recent incidents of terrorism as a serious security lapse and called for accountability.
He also demanded compensation packages for police personnel and other individuals who lost their lives in recent attacks, along with financial assistance for those who were injured.
The press conference was also attended by JI Deputy Ameer Arshad Zaman, District Ameer and former MNA Maulana Asadullah Khan, Divisional Information Secretary Engineer Hafiz Yaqub-ur-Rehman, District Information Secretary Malik Sher Bahadur Khan, former Tehsil Nazim Imran-ul-Din Advocate and Riaz Muhammad Advocate.
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