Lower Dir — Political parties, traders, and civil society representatives from Malakand Division have announced a coordinated protest movement against the proposed imposition of taxes in the region, following a joint decision at a multi-stakeholder conference in Timergara.

The announcement was made after an All Parties Conference (APC) and grand jirga organised by the Timergara Traders Association, where participants from major political parties, legal circles, trader bodies, and local elders gathered to discuss the proposed taxation measures.

The meeting resulted in the formation of a joint action committee representing political and business communities. The committee has been tasked with engaging federal leadership, including the president and prime minister, to formally present concerns raised by stakeholders in the region.

Participants unanimously rejected the proposed tax plan, arguing that Malakand Division’s special constitutional and historical status must be taken into account. Speakers said the decision could have long-term economic and social implications for the region.

In a declaration issued at the conference, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Hafiz Yaqoobur Rehman warned that the movement could escalate into shutter-down strikes, sit-ins, and peaceful demonstrations if the proposal is not withdrawn. He also called for the continuation of the legal framework linked to the 1969 agreement between former princely states and the federal government.

Lawmakers and political leaders including MNA Syed Mehboob Shah, MPAs Malik Shafiullah Khan and Mohammad Azam Khan, and former finance minister Muzaffar Said Advocate also addressed the gathering, vowing to pursue constitutional and legal avenues to oppose the taxation plan.

Speakers stressed that the issue transcends party lines and should be viewed as a collective struggle for the protection of Malakand’s legal, constitutional, and historical rights.

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