Traders call strike, say taxes illegal in absence of defined status of GB

GILGIT: Various parts of Gilgit-Baltistan continue to observe shutter-down strike on the calls of the trader community against the implementation of withholding tax in the region.

The Central Traders Association said that levying taxes without determining the constitutional status of Gilgil-Baltistan is illegal. He said that strikes and protest rallies would continue in the region, threatening a wheel-jam strike if the tax notification by the government is not withdrawn.

The strike was endorsed by all religious and political parties except the ruling party in the region, as well as lawyers and human rights activists.