By: SYED SHAHABUDDIN
In a strong show of unity, traders from all nine districts of Malakand Division held a grand jirga and staged a protest rally in Mingora on Monday against the federal government’s decision to impose a 10 percent sales tax in the 2025–26 budget. The protest was organized by the Malakand Division Traders Federation, which announced a complete shutter-down strike across the division on Tuesday, June 25.
Participants in the rally carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans such as “Reject sales tax,” “Restore Malakand’s constitutional status,” and “Withdraw unjust taxation.” The protesters vocally rejected the tax decision and termed it an assault on the economic rights of an already underdeveloped region.
Addressing the gathering, President of the Malakand Division Traders Federation Haji Abdurrahim warned that if the government failed to withdraw the tax by the deadline, the next phase would include a complete wheel-jam strike. He accused the federal leadership, including Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, of being unaware of Malakand’ s special constitutional status and the deep-rooted sensitivities of the region.
Abdurrahim pointed out that the Sartaj Aziz Commission report did not mention Malakand Division, yet the government was attempting to strip the region of its constitutional protections under the guise of FATA reforms.
He alleged that the move to impose sales tax on local industries was aimed at benefitting industrialists from Punjab.
He said the people of Malakand had sacrificed over 2,500 lives during the war on terror and that stripping them of their rights was unacceptable and would be resisted at every level.
The jirga was attended by key trade leaders from across the division. These included Mohammad Zada president Bisham traders federation, Anwaruddin president traders federation Lower Dir, Zawar Khan general secretary Malakand Division Traders Federation, Fazal Rabi president traders federation Buner, Shakirullah president traders federation Batkhela, Hamid Khan president traders federation Skhakot, Haji Zahid Khan president of Hotel Association Swat, Noor Muhammad Khan president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Swat, Khizar Hayat president Petroleum Association Swat, and Dr Khalid Mahmood spokesperson Swat traders Federation. All leaders agreed to expand the protest movement if the government fails to respond positively by June 25. The jirga warned that any resulting unrest would be the sole responsibility of the federal government.
