Traders demonstrate against levy of toll tax continues

The protestation against levy of toll tax continued on fourth consecutive day, here on Tuesday.
Hundreds of traders, businessmen, lawyers and members of district council and TMA took out a protest procession against toll tax, while an unruly mob ransacked a toll tax recovery camp situated at Sargodha Raod. Nishatabad Police have registered a case against more than 132 persons however no arrest has been made so far.
The major demonstration was staged at the front of District Council Faisalabad, where speakers have demanded immediate withdrawal of toll tax, which is not only creating panic for the public, but also yielded negative impact over the business activities.
Legislators, representatives of trade bodies, political parties and industrialists have expressed resentment over deteriorating law and order situation in the district.
Addressing a press conference, MMA leader Ameer JI Faisalabad, Sardar Zafar Hussain said that the levy of toll tax is a conspiracy to yield benefits for ruling group.
He announced that if this tax was not withdrawn, they would also launch protestation after February 08, 2004 and payment of taxes would be stopped.
He said that traders and business community would continue to protest against this high handedness of Zila Council.
Meanwhile, Rana Ikhlaq Ahmed, Chairman, Muhammad Akram Ghouri, Vice Chairman, All Pakistan Cotton Powerlooms Association condemned the levy of toll tax.
They said that toll tax on movement in and out of city was tantamount to restriction on free movement of the people and was thus in violation of the fundamental rights of citizen as guaranteed by constitution of Pakistan.
They further said that the toll tax would escalate the prices of essential commodities and of vegetables and other eatable item thereby engendering price hike, and making the life of people miserable, particularly the poor sections of society who were already groaning under the huge prices of basic necessities.
Earlier, protesting circles also staged a sit-in in front of the Zila Council for the fourth consecutive day and demanded immediate withdrawal of toll tax.
During protestation, hundreds of villagers and cane growers attacked and pulled down the toll tax camp established by Zila Council contractor on Sargodha Road near Chak No. 7JB and broke up the barrier and tents of the staff when the toll post staff tried to collects toll tax from them.
Nishatabad Police has registered case under section 148, 149, 427, 506 PPC against 132 processionists.
Meanwhile opposition members of TMA Saddar have passed a resolution here on Tuesday condemning levy of toll tax and demanded its withdrawal in the best interest of the public.