By Fazal Khaliq
MINGORA: Hundreds of workers and owners of stone crushing plants from Dir and Swat staged a demonstration here on Monday against the provincial government for imposing tax on them and closing their units.
Carrying black flags, the protesters blocked Mingora-Saidu Sharif Road and then gathered at Nishat Chowk where they chanted slogans against the government. They said that thousands of people were connected with the crushing plants business and their closure left them jobless.
Malakand Division Crushing Plants Owners Association chairman Rahmat Ali Khan, senior vice president and other office-bearers including Fayaz Khan, Wakeel Ahmad, Haji Parwanat Khan, Ayanullah, Fazl Rehman, Hazrat Ali, Fayaz Khan, Azizur Rehman and Haji Fatahullah addressed the protesters.
“Imposing tax and closing crushing plants mean financial assassination of thousands of poor people. Due to closure of the plants, thousands of people are starving as they don’t have money to buy food,” said Rahmat Ali Khan.
“The government should not only allow us to open our crushing plants but also compensate us for our losses,” said Mr Khan.
