ISLAMABAD: The PML-Q, MQM, JUI-F and other minor political parties, who have vowed to oppose the Reformed General Sales Tax Bill 2010 in totality, are likely to boycott the voting on the recommendations finalised by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Friday, as experts say the parties have no other option left with them.
“These political parties, including my party, the PML- Q, who have decided to oppose the anti-poor bill, will find themselves in a fix when the report is laid in the Upper House,” said Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Wasim Sajjad.
“If these parties vote against these recommendations, it could be taken as if we are supporting the original bill. However, if we don’t oppose these recommendations, it could mean that we are against these recommendations and are with the original bill.
So this is a very significant legal point and we will take a decision in this regard on Friday,” he added. Asked if his party would boycott the voting on the recommendations, Sajjad agreed to the notion, saying that for the time being, it was the only option left with his party and other parties opposing the bill.
“It is a viable option, however, a decision will be taken on Friday,” he added. Sajjad said his party was against taxing the poor and the GST Bill 2010 was a draconian piece of legislation and the party would oppose it in the National Assembly as well as in the Senate.
Senator Haroon Akhtar Khan also agreed, saying those opposing the bill had no other option but to support the recommendations finalised by the Senate standing committee on finance.
