GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Council on Wednesday assured protesters that the federal government has accepted their demands regarding rollback of taxes and a notification will be issued soon.

After receiving the assurance, protesters have called off the sit-in in Gilgit and Skardu till Nov 23. However, they warned that they will resume march towards Islamabad if their demands are not implemented.

The assurance came on the third day of protests against levy of taxes as life across Gilgit-Baltistan came to a standstill.

Sit-in called off till Nov 23 but ‘will resume if demands are not met’

The protestors — with full support from Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf and religious organisations — have decried levy of taxes without the determination of constitutional status of the region.

The protest call was given jointly by GB Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran, Awami Action Committee (AAC), GB Bar Council, GB Chamber of Commerce and Industry and GB Transport Association.

Thousands of people belonging to different political parties, civil society organisations and trade unions took part in the sit-ins at Skardu’s Yadgar Chowk and Gilgit’s Gadibagh.

All educational, legal, trade and business activities have remained suspended in 10 districts of the GB region including Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, Shigar, Ghanche, Khar­mang, with many local and foreign tourists facing hardships due to the shutdown.

Talks were held between government representatives including GB minister Dr Muhammad Iqbal, Parliamentary Secretary in GB Legislative Assembly Advocate Aurngzaib Khan, Advisor to GB Chief Minister Farooq Mir. The protesting parties were represented by President Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran Gilgit Muhammad Ibrahim, Vice Chairman AAC Fida Hussain, GB Contractors Association Firdos Ahmed and others.

Addressing protesters at Gadibagh in Gilgit, JUI-F GB Chapter Information Secretary Minhajuddin, President PTI Gilgit Region Aziz Ahmed, All Pakistan Muslim League GB President Karim Khan and others questioned that if GB is considered disputed, than how is tax collection from the region justified.

“Taxes on GB cannot be imposed until the region declares constitutional part of Pakistan and provision of all rights which are enjoyed by people in other part of Pakistan,” they demanded.

The leaders stressed that the citizens of GB were not against paying taxes, but they must be given constitutional rights.

Addressing protestors, President Mar­kazi Anjuman-i-Tajran Skardu Ghulaam Hussain said the federal government was not resolving issues of GB and rather deceiving the citizens of the region.

PPP Gilgit-Baltistan President, Advocate Amjad Hussain said the federal government received over Rs50 billion from general sales tax, income tax, custom duty, wealth tax, withholding tax on transaction, withholding tax on money transfer and federal excise duty from GB people annually. However, the federal government returns only Rs25bn, he added.

He said taxes collected from GB people should returned for the development of the region. The government must stop discriminating against the people of the GB region.

Mr Hussain said the GB masses were exercising their political rights. “Why is Gilgit-Baltistan — an undisputed territory of Pakistan — being kept as disputed? It should be merged with Pakistan,” he stressed.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2017