MUZAFFARABAD: A protest by intra-Kashmir traders against the alleged belligerent attitude of Pakistan customs entered fifth day on Monday.

The traders warned to continue it until their problem was not addressed by the government of Pakistan.

The traders also called upon the chief justice of Pakistan and the chief of the army staff to step in to forestall their `economic slaughter` as they had pooled their lifelong savings in the activity, launched in October 2008 as the second major Kashmir specific confi-dence building measure (CBM) between Pakistan and India afterintra-Kashmir travel.

On Thursday, the intra-Kashmir traders began their protest in the form of a sit-in at Burhan Wani Chowk against the `unending` confiscations of their trucks and goods by the customs department outside the territorial jurisdiction of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), while terming the trade as smuggling.

On Monday, they took out a rally from Domel to Burhan Wani Chowk, where they staged a sit-in for more than two hours, and later marched to the site of a shopping plaza along the Bank Road and established a makeshift camp there.

`Tell us are we traders or smugglers,` asked one of the banners in their hands.

Ajaz Ahmed Meer, a spokesperson for the traders, told reporters that similar rally would also be held on Tuesday before a sit-in at Burhan Wani Chowk a favourite venue for almost all demonstrations due to its prime location.Mr Meer said the traders had been complaining about `raids, confiscation and auction of their trucks and mercantile goods by the customs officials` for the last several months but to no avail.

`As soon as our trucks enter Pakistani territory (f rom AJK), we f ace the belligerent customsauthorities, notwithstanding the fact the intra-Kashmir trade was initiated under zero tarif f regime,` he said.

He recalled that in early December last year, the customs department had even lodged an FIR against 46 traders in a Rawalpindi police station af ter a scuf fle between thetwo sides.

Five people were arrested by police in the light of that FIR who were later released on bail, he said.

He recalled that in protest against those incidents, the traders had suspended trade from Chakothi crossing point on December 26.However, the activity was `conditionally` resumed on January 2 after an apparently positive meeting with Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha, where it was decided that a `high-level committee` comprising officials and representatives from the AJK government, customs department and traders would be constituted before Jan 15 to settle the issues regarding trade from both crossing points.

Mr Meer lamented that the commitment by the FBR chairman was swept under the carpet as there had been no change in the conduct of the customs department.

`Even after January 3, the customs personnel have confiscated 24 trucks. Goods on 21 trucks were auctioned by them while fresh fruits on three trucks rotted in their custody, he said.

`When the government of Pakistan had to launch this CBM, they literally begged us to take part in this activity. Butnow when we have investe d our lifelong savings in this trade, they have resorted to our economic slaughter which is unbearable for traders on both sides of the LoC,` said Sardar Kazeem Khan from Tetrinote crossing point.

Basharat Noori claimed that on both sides of the divide, billions of rupees of traders had got stuck up in this trade on barter basis.

`If the federal government is unable to address this problem, it should pay us this amount and formally announce closure of this activity. There is no point of continuing a so-called CBM which has literally brought us to the position of seeking alms,` he said.

Sardar Ansaar Ahmed pointe d out that Kashmiri traders paid at least Rs150 million per annum to AJK Trade and Travel Authority in taxes, with which they were registered.

`Nevertheless, customs authorities dub us as smugglers. If we are smugglers then our state is also smuggler,` he fumed.