LAHORE: The All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran (APAT) reiterated on Wednesday that it would hold a march towards Islamabad on October 9, following the failure of its talks with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday, APAT Central General Secretary Naeem Mir said that the traders’ protest march “will be peaceful and there is no plan of any lockdown”.
“This is my message to the FBR chairman that we are going to Islamabad on ‘his invitation’,” the senior APAT official maintained.
He said that the APAT leadership across the country has already been delegated responsibilities for the Islamabad march.
“Thousands of traders will first gather at the Aabpara Market and then march towards FBR and National Assembly buildings where a resolution against the unfair taxation system will be passed.”
He, however, said that traders do not want a clash with the police or administration.
Naeem Mir said that traders would protest on October 9 in Islamabad while the decision of countrywide protest on October 10 would be taken after consultation with other trade bodies.
He asked the government to explain as to how the traders should run their businesses amid unfair taxation and exorbitant import duties.
“The major demand included in our resolution will be the fixed tax regime for the small and medium-sized businesses,” he added.
Other trade leaders on the occasion claimed that wholesalers, as well as retailers, were being registered forcibly, which was totally illegal.
