The members of District Council, business community, and citizens expressed grave concern over the toll tax imposed by the district government, and declared that the auction of toll tax a clear cut part of a corruption.
All Pakistan Sizing Industries Association Secretary Chaudhry Mohammed Shahbaz Kissana said the auctioned contracts of toll tax having a potential of earning Rs 80 million within six months, but this goes to in Rs 13 million along with the special protection through the Faisalabad District Nazim.
Addressing a press conference, Dilber Hameed Bal, chairman, Accounts Committee, District Assembly; Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmed, Kissan member; Rana Naeem Dastgir, Arshad Dogar and Usman Saeed, members of District Assembly also expressed grave concern over the auction of five contracts of the toll tax with special concessions.
They announced if the government will not take action against this white-collar corruption within a week, they would launch protestation against rampant white-collar corruption in Faisalabad, and a camp would be established outside the District Council Hall as a mark of protest.
The opposition claimed that such an important decision was forced on the people without any debate on the issue, saying the people coming from far-flung areas of the district showed anger at the imposition of toll tax.
The ill-planned move also created traffic problems as the motorists refused to pay the tax and parked their vehicles in the middle of the road. Furthermore, farmers and citizens also staged protest demonstration at the collection points of toll tax at various roads, opposition added.
They said more than 16 incidents of clashes were reported between contractors' staff and motorists as the district government started collection of toll tax on five major roads.
Duty officers of Thikriwala, Sargodha Road and Khurrianwala police stations confirmed the reports of clashes in which a number of people sustained injuries, adding that they had not received any written complaint against any person for the registration of cases.
People were seen exchanging hot words with the armed men of contractors at toll posts.
The district government had decided to impose toll tax on 11 roads of the district during the last fiscal year, but it failed to implement it due to strong resistance from all segments of society. It announced imposition of toll tax again in the current financial year on five roads instead of 11.
Meanwhile, PPP MPA Jahanzeb Gill, Faisalabad Transporters Union president Israr Ahmad Khan, PML-N leader Shabaz Kissana,, All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran Chairman Sheikh Taj Mahmood and representatives of a number of NGOs and trade bodies severely criticised the district government for imposing toll tax.
They termed the toll tax as against the interest of common people and a clear violation of the local government rules.
They urged the Punjab chief minister to direct the district government to immediately stop the tax collection.
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