Altaf says no to new tax

The MQM chief opposes the imposition of the RGST, while the cabinet approves it along with the flood tax.

ISLAMABAD:

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has called for the withdrawal of the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST).

In a telephonic address to party workers at the Lal Qila Ground in Azizabad on Wednesday, he strongly criticised the federal cabinet’s decision to impose new taxes in the country as “not only cruel, but also unjust.”

“Oppressed and downtrodden people are already forced to live under the heavy burden of inflation on essential items; the imposition of the RGST will result in a tsunami of price hikes,” Hussain said.

He regretted that instead of bringing the income of feudal lords and influential people under the tax net, introducing tax reforms in the country and stopping “corruption of billions of rupees,” an additional burden was being put on the public. People who evade taxes are benefitting and those already oppressed are being burdened more, he alleged.

He criticised the government for its failure to control corruption in the country. “Whether it is a provincial or federal government department, there is uncontrolled corruption,” Hussain said.

The MQM chief claimed that the rate of suicide is skyrocketing as people are unable to make ends meet. He asked whether the cabinet’s decision to impose the RSGT and flood surcharge would affect those who had amassed ‘ill-gotten wealth’ or ordinary people.

Hussain appealed to the “patriotic people” of Pakistan, students, peasants, labourers, and salaried people to stop supporting political parties which loot and plunder national wealth.  He claimed that it was only the MQM that talks about ridding the country of corruption.

MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi elaborated on his party chief’s statement and said the MQM would neither support the RGST nor the flood tax bill expected to be tabled in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies in the current session. He said that according to the federal cabinet’s approved measure, 16 per cent additional tax will be placed on people immediately. Rizvi pointed out implementation flaws in the RGST and warned that the economy will suffer. However, in a possible indication of keeping the door of negotiations open, Rizvi said: “No final decision has been made yet, but the party will oppose the (RGST and flood tax) bills.”

The MQM has 25 seats in parliament, said MNA Waseem Akhtar. If other opposition parties like the PML-N, who have indicated that they will not support the federal government’s move to impose the tax, support our stance then there is no way the bill can pass, he said. “But even if we end up without any other party’s support and are not able to stop the passage of the bill, we will oppose it,” he added.

Earlier, in his telephonic address that was beamed to 31 locations across the country, Hussain demanded that the government stop arresting and killing political leaders in Balochistan.

Published in The Express Triune, November 11th, 2010.