SWABI: Members of the local chapter of the Frontier Mine Owners Association (FMOA) demanded the immediate withdrawal of the ‘illegal’ service tax imposed by the TMA, warning that they would stage a protest at Karnal Sher Khan Chowk if their demand was not met.

FMOA chairman Gul Zamin Shah, district president Sirzamin Khan, along with several other leaders, addressed a press conference at the Swabi Press Club on Sunday. Mr Khan stated that a service tax of Rs 400 per dumper and Rs 200 per tractor-trolley was being collected by the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) staff, with no proper record of the payments maintained.

He alleged that the contract for collecting the illegal tax had been jointly awarded to elected local body representatives and relatives of the TMA officials. The FMOA leaders claimed that TMA officers were collecting this unauthorised tax to cover illegal expenses incurred during political sit-ins, despite not providing any services to mine owners.

They further stated, “We will approach the Peshawar High Court against this illegal tax collection and also stage a peaceful protest.”

CONDOLENCE REFERENCE: Speakers at a condolence reference held for Arifullah Sarhadi, the founder and editor-in-chief of Daily Islah, Swabi, praised his remarkable journalistic contributions and his dedication to the field of media, stating that his legacy would live on forever.

Arifullah Sarhadi had passed away on December 3. The event was attended by journalists from both print and electronic media, intellectuals, civil society members, and leaders from political and religious parties. Prof Nooral Amin Yousafzai, a renowned writer and former professor at Islamia College Peshawar, served as the chief guest on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Yousafzai expressed his intention to meet with faculty members of the University of Swabi to propose that a student should undertake a thesis on the life, struggles, and contributions of Arifullah Sarhadi. He expressed hope that his proposal would be approved by the university’s administration.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2024