JI rejects imposition of agriculture tax in KP

PESHAWAR: Expressing concern over the imposition of agriculture tax, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Thursday termed the decision as an injustice with farmers and announced to launch a massive protest movement against the decision of the provincial government.

Addressing a press conference here, JI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Central) chief Abdul Wasi condemned the decision and said that it would affect the farmers and the people would stop growing crops.

He said that after the imposition of the income tax and super tax on agricultural earnings, the farmers would be subjected to a tax ranging from 15 percent to 45 percent.

Provincial general secretary of the party Sabir Hussain Awan, Peshawar district president, Bahrullah Khan Advocate, information secretary Noorul Wahid Jadoon and minority wing president Javed Gul were also present on the occasion where details of the maiden meeting of the provincial shura of the party were shared with the media.

Abdul Wasi criticised the provincial government for what he termed its complete failure on all fronts. He said that the people of the province were experiencing the worst law and order situation for the last two decades. “The province has been suffering due to the flawed economic policies of the successive PTI governments,” he added.

He said that inflation, unemployment and the record corruption in government institutions have already devastated the province and now the government was putting extra-burden on farmers with the additional taxes.

“The rulers are pushing the people into extreme poverty through their failed policies. Jamaat-e-Islami will not leave the people of the province alone in the face of such oppressive measures. We will launch a strong protest campaign against this anti-people policy,” he announced.

He also criticised both federal and provincial governments for their failure to provide relief to the people, accusing them of suppressing the constitutional right to peaceful protest of government employees and local representatives. Meanwhile, he pointed out, the provincial chief minister is using state machinery to push for the release of his party leader.

Abdul Wasi announced that, following the call of JI Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, a nationwide protest will be held on January 31 against excessive electricity bills and costly agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

Expressing concern over the deteriorating security situation in Kurram district, he lamented the government’s failure to establish its authority, leading to ongoing violence. He urged the government to resolve the issue through negotiations rather than force, emphasizing that the loss of innocent lives on both sides is deeply regrettable.

He said that the government was planning to launch a military operation in Kurram, which the JI would strongly oppose. He said that military operations were no solution to any problem. He said the military operations been enough a solution to the problem, the successive operations since 2004 would have born positive results. He said an operation was already going on in Khyber tribal district, which has made the lives of the common people miserable during the winter season. He added that the issue in Kurram was not merely a sectarian issue as both the Shia and Sunni communities were residing all over the country, but the tension has been going on in Kurram only. He also announced that the JI would observe February 5 as Kashmir Solidarity Day.