PESHAWAR: Owing to the possible reaction and public outrage of the people of Malakand division, the federal government is likely to withdraw extension of controversial Custom Act, 1969 to Malakand division and PATA.
Parliamentarians of PTI and PML-N informed that the federal government has sought opinion of the Law Ministry to discuss its repercussions and legal complications in case of imposition of the act. However, due to serious reservation of the people of Malakand division and intervention of the provincial government in the matter, the federal government is likely to withdraw the controversial custom act and soon a notification will be issued after it receives opinion from the Law Ministry .
The people of Malakand division exempted from custom duty and income tax when Wali of Swat Mian Gul Jehanzeb announced accession with Pakistan on July 28, 1969 during Yahya Khan Reign. The agreement was signed at that time while keeping in view the poor economic position of the people of Malakand division as there were no industrial units in Malakand division and people mostly relying upon foreign remittances and their agrarian land.
Furthermore, this part of the country several time hit by natural disasters like earthquake, flood, and militancy in the last few years and imposition of custom act may have far reaching impact upon the economic condition of these people who earning money through hard labor in foreign countries.
Talking to Custom Today Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Member of National Assembly from Swat Murad Saeed said that they have conveyed their concern to federal government through Parliamentary Secretary Rana Afzal.
He said through adjournment motion and point of order the lawmakers belonged to Malakand division has strongly protested over this issue and that was the reason that federal government has hinted to take back the decision in next two or three days.
PML-N leader and Member of National Assembly from Shangla Dr Ibadullah, said that they had strong reservation over extension of this act despite this that they have been elected upon the tickets of Pakistan Muslim League (N). He said that federal government had no intension to extend this act to Malakand division but actually it was proposed by the provincial government to federal government to extend this act to PATA and Malakand division.
He added that federal government is likely to withdraw this controversial act and soon notification will be issued after taking opinion of the law ministry. He said that if the federal government had not withdrawn this act, then all parliamentarians of Malakand division were ready to tender resignation.
Provincial Spokesman Jamiat-Ulema-Islam Fazal Abdul Jalil Jan said that he hoped that federal government will soon withdraw this decision and if it was delayed then JUI-F will fully support Malakand division parliamentarian to press government on this issue of vital importance.
It is pertinent to mentioned that Malakand division and Swat remained an autonomous princely state of West Pakistan and the Wali continued to function as a political entity till 1969. It was partly merged in 1947 and later in 1969, after the princely state of Swat became fully dissolved and was incorporated into the North-West Frontier Province at that time. The region comprising the former princely state today covers parts of the Swat Buner and Shangla districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Malakand division was exempted from custom duty owing to the poor economic plight of the people as after extension of this Act to Malakand division FBR will also establish income tax offices to impose property tax and taxes on small business and agrarian land.
