Bashir Hussain Azad
Chitral, July 3, 2026: An All Parties Conference (APC) held in Chitral on Friday unanimously rejected the federal government’s decision to impose income and other federal taxes in Malakand Division, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the move.
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The public gathering, organized at Ataliq Bridge by political and social organizations, adopted a unanimous resolution stating that the imposition of federal taxes would place an unbearable financial burden on people already struggling with economic hardship.
Addressing the gathering, speakers said Chitral and the wider Malakand Division have suffered extensive losses from floods, natural disasters and terrorism over the past several years, leaving the local economy severely weakened. They argued that introducing new taxes under such circumstances was unjust and unacceptable.
The rally was addressed by former District Nazim Maghfirat Shah, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Wajeehuddin, JUI leader Maulana Abdul Rahman, ANP’s Haji Eid Hussain, PML-N’s Muhammad Kausar, former MPA Saeed Ahmad Khan, PPP’s Sharif Hussain and Chitral Traders Association President Noor Ahmad Khan.
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The speakers vowed to resist the taxes through all constitutional and democratic means and warned that if the federal government failed to reverse its decision, they would launch a protest movement.
They added that any deterioration in the law and order situation during such protests would be the responsibility of the federal government.
The gathering concluded with a brief commotion after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers protested over the alleged denial of speaking time to their party leaders before the event dispersed peacefully.