Thousands Rally Against Tax Imposition in Malakand Division, Warn of Civil Disobedience

By Muhammad Shahzad
Lahore, Pakistan

SWAT: Thousands of people gathered at Nishat Chowk in Mingora on Sunday to protest against the withdrawal of Malakand Division’s special constitutional and legal status and the imposition of taxes in the region.

The demonstration drew a large cross-section of society, including traders, industrialists, representatives of political parties, lawyers, members of hotel associations, jirga elders, and civil society activists.

Addressing the gathering, Jamaat-e-Islami KP North Ameer Inayatullah Khan, Malakand Division Traders Federation President Abdur Rahim, Swat Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Noor Muhammad Khan, MPA Fazal Hakim, trader leader Dr. Khalid Mahmood, JUI-F Swat General Secretary Ijaz Khan, QWP Chairman Sher Bahadur Khanzada, Swat Hotels Association President Haji Zahid Khan, ANP Swat President Sher Shah Khan, PML-N District President Advocate Qavi Khan, PPP leader Akhtar Hussain, and other speakers strongly criticized the government’s decision.

The speakers said Malakand Division has endured years of hardship due to terrorism, earthquakes, floods, economic losses, and damaged infrastructure. Instead of providing relief and development opportunities to the affected population, they said, the government had imposed an additional financial burden through new taxes.

They maintained that the people of Malakand Division had always stood by Pakistan during difficult times, made immense sacrifices for the country’s peace and stability, and contributed to the national economy. Imposing taxes under such circumstances, they argued, was unjust and unacceptable.

The speakers described the protest as the first phase of a broader movement and warned that if the taxes were not withdrawn, the campaign would intensify through peaceful demonstrations, sit-ins, legal action, and, if necessary, a civil disobedience movement.

Several speakers also urged elected representatives from the region to resign if they were unable to safeguard the interests of the people. Some participants warned of boycotting electricity and gas bills and resisting the establishment of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) offices in Malakand Division.

Speaking on the occasion, MPA Fazal Hakim said he was prepared to resign if required in the larger public interest. Inayatullah Khan stated that the people of Malakand Division would not accept the new taxes until the government ensured quality education, improved healthcare, employment opportunities, and other essential public services for the region.

The protest concluded with participants expressing unanimous support for the action committee’s future strategy and pledging to continue their peaceful movement until the proposed taxes were withdrawn and Malakand Division’s special constitutional status was restored.