- Opp’s protest against additional GST continues in NA
Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah Thursday said that the opposition would continue to walkout from sessions of the Lower House of the Parliament on daily basis until the withdrawal of the increase in taxes on petroleum products.
Responding to the speech delivered by Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar in the National Assembly, he urged the minister to withdraw the increase and announced a walkout from the House immediately in case the withdrawal of additional taxes was refused.
The opposition walked out from the House at the last moment when the speaker was adjourning the proceedings until Friday morning.
He said the opposition was not resorting to criticism for the sake of criticism but was conveying the concerns of the public to the rulers.
Earlier, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar defended the decision of the government to increase General Sales Tax on petroleum prices and claimed that it was in no way a violation of the constitution.
Syed Naveed Qamar was of the view that the step was a violation of Article 77 of the Constitution. He said that the PML-N in its election manifesto had pledged to rely on direct taxation after coming into power, but now it was violating its own document.
He said the government first increased the GST on petroleum products from 17 per cent to 22 per cent and now had enhanced it further to 27 per cent, which is the highest proportion of tax ever levied on a single commodity.
He emphasised that the matter should be brought to the National Assembly for debate as the input of the opposition may help in finding an amicable solution for the matter.
MQM’s Rasheed Godail said that the impact of the decrease in petroleum product prices should be passed on to the masses. He said that the Parliament is the supreme most forum to discuss issues relating to public importance, but it is beyond understanding why the tax has been imposed.
He said there are many other areas where the government can generate revenues from but imposing taxes through SROs is not right.
He also said that it is a blessing that major deposits of iron ore and copper have been found in Chiniot, and asked the government to conduct mining in the area for the betterment of the country, and ensure a fair distribution of resources.
Sahibzada Tariqullah was of the view that the prices of petroleum products should be further decreased and masses should be provided relief.
Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad expressed his pleasure over the reserves found in Chiniot and said that the government should avoid further burdening the masses through the imposition of taxes.