‘Injustice’: K-P marble association protests increase in royalty tax
Blocks roads in provincial capital, bringing traffic to a standstill
PESHAWAR:
Members of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Marble Industries and Mines Association on Wednesday protested against the 200% increase in royalty tax on marble mines.
The members came early in the day from several districts of K-P, including Buner, Swabi and Mardan, to protest in Peshawar, however, the police stopped them near the Peshawar Motorway Interchange. This caused a traffic jam on both sides of the road.
Later, the protesters blocked Suri Pull where lighter vehicles moved ahead by choosing different routes, but passenger buses and mini-buses were seen stuck on the roads.
The passengers soon left the buses and were seen walking with luggage on their shoulders. Many turned to Ring Road to reach the Peshawar Cantonment via Kohat Road.
The protesters threatened to stage a sit-in outside the provincial assembly building if the government did not withdraw its decision of increasing royalty tax on marble mines.
Jehangira Marble Association President Mian Fazilat Shah, Buner association president Musa Jan, Swat president Murad Khan, Risalpur president Aftab Khan and a large number of office-bearers and marble factory owners of Swat, Buner, Mardan, Swabi and Peshawar were also present at the protest.
Addressing the gathering, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Marble Industries and Mines Association Chairman Muhammad Sajjad Khan said that in July, the provincial government had increased the royalty tax by about 200%. “We were paying Rs30 per tonne of marble but the government increased it to Rs90 per tonne,” he said.
The factory owners refused to disperse and insisted that they be allowed to meet Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.
The district police officer and district administration formed a ten-member committee to negotiate with the protesters. The officials told demonstrators that they would arrange a meeting with CM when the protesters allowed traffic to resume, but the association members refused to comply. The sit-in was under way till this report was filed.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2014.
Members of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Marble Industries and Mines Association on Wednesday protested against the 200% increase in royalty tax on marble mines.
The members came early in the day from several districts of K-P, including Buner, Swabi and Mardan, to protest in Peshawar, however, the police stopped them near the Peshawar Motorway Interchange. This caused a traffic jam on both sides of the road.
Later, the protesters blocked Suri Pull where lighter vehicles moved ahead by choosing different routes, but passenger buses and mini-buses were seen stuck on the roads.
The passengers soon left the buses and were seen walking with luggage on their shoulders. Many turned to Ring Road to reach the Peshawar Cantonment via Kohat Road.
The protesters threatened to stage a sit-in outside the provincial assembly building if the government did not withdraw its decision of increasing royalty tax on marble mines.
Jehangira Marble Association President Mian Fazilat Shah, Buner association president Musa Jan, Swat president Murad Khan, Risalpur president Aftab Khan and a large number of office-bearers and marble factory owners of Swat, Buner, Mardan, Swabi and Peshawar were also present at the protest.
Addressing the gathering, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Marble Industries and Mines Association Chairman Muhammad Sajjad Khan said that in July, the provincial government had increased the royalty tax by about 200%. “We were paying Rs30 per tonne of marble but the government increased it to Rs90 per tonne,” he said.
The factory owners refused to disperse and insisted that they be allowed to meet Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.
The district police officer and district administration formed a ten-member committee to negotiate with the protesters. The officials told demonstrators that they would arrange a meeting with CM when the protesters allowed traffic to resume, but the association members refused to comply. The sit-in was under way till this report was filed.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2014.