Govt warned against enforcing customs act

They urged the federal government to immediately withdraw notification on the extension of that law to the region. The moot, which took place at the Fishing Hut, was attended by lawmakers of political parties, political leaders of Swat, Malakand, Shangla, Dir and Chitral, and representatives of local government, traders, lawyers and civil society organisations in large numbers. Participants of multi-party conference threaten to go to any extent to block law Noted among speakers were ANP parliamentary leader in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Sardar Hussain Babak, JUI-F provincial chief Maulana Gul Naseeb, PTI’s MNA Junaid Akbar, former ministers Shahraz Khan, Humayun Khan and Wajid Ali Khan, Anjuman Tajaran Batkhela president Haji Shakirullah Khan, QWP leader from Swat Fazal Rehman Nonu, Lower Dir district nazim Mohammad Rasool Khan and naib nazim Abdul Rashid, ANP Lower Dir president Hussain Shah Yousafzai and elders of Shangla, Chitral and Buner districts. They said the people of Malakand division had thought that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would announce the withdrawal of customs law from Malakand division and Kohistan during his visit to Mingora, but they’re disappointed to see Nawaz Sharif utter not a single word on it. The speakers also criticised Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and chief of the ruling PTI Imran Khan for not speaking against the customs law during their recent visits to Swat. PTI lawmaker from Malakand Agency Junaid Akbar insisted the provincial chief minister was involved in the decision made by the federal government about the customs law’s extension to Malakand division and Kohistan district. He said other partners of the ruling coalition in KP should also admit their mistake in this respect. Most participants suggested that members of the action committee and elected lawmakers meet President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to inform them about the grievances of and unrest among the people of Malakand division and Kohistan over the enforcement of the customs law in the region. They said the people of Malakand division would come onto the streets and wouldn’t even hesitate to start a civil disobedience movement if the law wasn’t withdrawn. JI Lower Dir chief and MPA Izazul Mulk Afkari announced that his party’s all lawmakers would quit assemblies if the government didn’t listen to the people of Malakand division on the issue and take corrective measures. Representatives of other walks of life announced they would fully support all moves suggested by the action committee on the Customs Act. They said the people of Malakand would stand by their political leadership and won’t hesitate to sacrifice even their life to claim their rights. Later, a communiqué was issued stating all political parties and sitting lawmakers from Malakand division were on the same page against the enforcement of customs law in the region. “We all are united and reject this black law. We will go to any extent against it and will resist its implementation,” it stated. The communiqué ratified the formation of an action committee consisting of all lawmakers and political leadership from Malakand division on the matter and stated the committee would announce future course of action against the customs law during the July 18 meeting. It also announced the hoisting of black flags and display of banners and signboards at all entry and exit points of Malakand division against the extension of customs law to the region.–Dawn]]>