Taliban levy taxes on Bajaur traders to support families of militants killed in jihad

Peshawar, Aug 15 : The Pakistan's unit of the Taliban, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has reportedly imposed fixed taxes on the locals in the Bajaur agency ranging between Rs 30 and 2500, depending upon the financial status of the people and traders, to support the families of the militants killed in the war against the US.

Bajaur is the worst case where reports say the Taliban have imposed fixed taxes on traders. "I pay Rs 500 a month to the Taliban as per their decree. I can afford to pay the sum, otherwise it would have been great injustice," said Rustam Khan, who runs a small business in the Khar bazaar.

Maulana Waheed, the in-charge of Zakat for Taliban in Bajaur, said the total collection was around Rs 175,000 so far, which much lower than what the Taliban need to spend.

Waheed denied the Taliban were forcing Khar residents to pay Zakat to them, but accepted collecting 12,000 kg of wheat as Ushr from farmers.

Meanwhile, fuel stations give 120 litres of fuel each to the Taliban, who are frequently on the move to avoid United States spy planes. "That is true, we provide a certain quantity of fuel to the Taliban as per their desire and our contribution for jihad," said a manager at one of the fuel stations in Khar.

In the neighbouring Mohmand tribal region, the Taliban are not collecting Zakat, but seek contributions from harvested crops and also collect skins of sacrificed animals. The Maulvi Nazir-led Taliban in Ahmedzai Wazir areas of South Waziristan collect neither Zakat nor Ushr, but the heavy fines they impose on the residents are one of the main sources of revenue to run the "Movement for Return of Taliban rule in Afghanistan".

Senior counter-terrorism officials say the militants abduct affluent people for random to generate funds. According to them, militant groups raised special squads for bank robbery, high profile kidnapping and taking away Afghanistan-bound containers, said the officials, citing certain cases as examples.

ANI