ON BOARD PM’S SPECIAL AIRCRAFT: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Thursday he believed all incomes should be taxed without any exception and those who publicly opposed imposition of taxes were playing to the galleries despite agreeing that the tax net had to be expanded.
Talking to reporters on board his special aircraft while returning home from his four-day visit to Turkey, the prime minister said, “There has to be a tax-paying culture … no one should be exempted … I believe that all incomes have to be taxed … those who earn must pay tax.”
However, he said the government would build consensus before tabling the reformed general sales tax bill in the National Assembly, as “it will not be possible to pass it without the support of the assembly … but no final decision has yet been taken … the process of consultation is going on”.
On WikiLeaks, the prime minister said the conversation of various officials with the US ambassador was not authentic. “It was a raw opinion of junior officers … these officials must restrict themselves from talking on sensitive matters and follow their code of conduct … they should not give their opinion as they are public servants,” he said, without committing that he would order an inquiry and take action against those who violated their code of conduct.
But he said that he considered the cables released by WikiLeaks “21st century diplomacy”. “What they (he did not specify who) don’t say themselves, they say this way,” he observed.
To a question regarding the PML-N’s deviation from the policy of reconciliation, the prime minister said the role of the opposition was to “embarrass the government”.
“There is no misunderstanding … they are playing their role and the role of the opposition is not friendly,” he added.
About the possibility of new alliances, he said the government was taking all political parties on board.
“It is difficult to govern with a coalition government … it is difficult to keep everyone happy in situation when no single party has absolute majority… and let me tell you, no party will have absolute majority in a house of 342 in the future… following the policy of reconciliation, we are trying to end the culture of political victimisation,” he said, adding that parliament was his strength and he accepted all its decisions.
He rejected media reports that any of his relative was involved in haj scam. “Tell me who are my relatives and friends… when you don’t have any proof, don’t say that there are any front-men… all appointments had been made in accordance with procedures,” the prime minister said.
