Not acceptable: Traders up in arms across the province

Demonstrations held in major cities against withholding tax

MULTAN/ FAISALABAD:

Hundreds of traders across the province held demonstrations and rallies on Wednesday to protest against the imposition of 0.3 per cent withholding tax on bank transactions for those not filing tax returns.

In Faisalabad, Anjuman-i-Tajaraan council chief Haji Aslam Bhalli, Chaudhry Parvaiz Iqbal Kamoka, Mehmood Aalam Jatt, Javaid Zafar, Khalid Jatt, Tanveer Riaz, Abbas Haidar Sheikh, Yousuf Moti, Dawood Ibraheem, Aftab Butt and Rana Ikramullah Khan led a protest camp at the Clock Tower.

Bhalli said that they had played a pivotal role in bringing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to power. “We thought that the party was business-friendly and would help boost trade activities after coming to power.”

He said the PML-N-led government had disappointed the traders. “They haven’t taken a single step for the welfare of traders.”

Bhalli said traders had held a series of protests following the imposition of the withholding tax. However, the government had not taken any steps to address their concerns, he said. “We now know that the government does not have traders’ interests at heart.”

Such ill-conceived policies had burdened the poor, he said. “They are left with no choice but to commit suicide or die from starvation.” He said the tax amounted to extortion and complained that the government continued to ignore their protests. “We have been forced to take to the streets and to take direct action to protect our rights.”

Bhalli requested Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take cognisance of the situation and to order steps to protect the interests of the traders. “Otherwise, we will go on strike for an indefinite period and choke business activity in the province.” The protesters shouted slogans against the government and demanded the removal of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

In Multan, members of Anjuman-i-Tajaraan gathered in front of the Income Tax Office at Nawan Shehr Chowk. They burnt tyres and blocked the road for traffic. “We will not pay the withholding tax,” one of the protesters said. The protesters carried banners and placards with their demands written on them.

One of the protesters said the imposition of withholding tax had further burdened traders. “We have called for a complete shutters-down strike from Khyber to Karachi on September 9,” he said.

Several members of transporters’ associations joined the demonstration. They said they would support the traders’ strike and called for a wheel jam.

The tax rate was earlier reduced from 0.6 per cent to 0.3 per cent through a presidential ordinance. All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajaraan chairperson Khawaja Suleman Siddique said the traders would not accept any withholding tax. “We reject the ordinance and demand complete abolition of the tax,” he said.  Protesters Noor Alam Ansari, Kamal Khan and Aurangzaib Ansari said the government had forced traders on to the streets.

“There is no check on fraudulent activities involving billions of dollars where politicians are involved…the government is making traders out to be thieves,” Alam said.

He said the government had mocked the traders’ community by calling a select few for talks. He said all stake holders had not been consulted in drafting the budget. “The budget was made according to the suggestions of the International Monetary Fund.”

Mian Ahsan Iqbal, president of Trade and Industries Association, said the government was not investing in health or education.  “People are scared of being under the tax net because no one trusts the government to protect their interests.”

Demonstrations were held in all major cities including Lahore and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2015.