PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID
The prime minister recently announced that his government would not ask industrialists their source of income on a minimum of Rs10 million investment.
Imran was addressing a press conference in Lahore, during which he vehemently criticised the scheme and termed it as a measure that burdens the already impoverished.
Shunning the idea that such schemes promote investment, Imran said these steps will only make “rich richer, poor poorer and finish the middle class.”
“Honest and salaried people will have to pay more taxes and poor will be burdened through inflation,” the PTI chief said.
The PTI chief announced to hold a protest against rising inflation in Lahore on December 22.
Drone strikes
"I have no doubts now that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in the centre is in secret agreement with the US over the drone issue," Imran Khan claimed today during the press conference.
He accused the PML-N of allowing the CIA to continue with its drone campaign in the country just like the previous Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government had during its tenure.
“Pakistan cannot have a future if US slaves continue to rule the country,” Imran said, adding that the May 11 elections were rigged as a part of an international agenda which put weak people at the helm.
“These leaders tell US to go on with the drone strikes while they will issue protest statements to fool the people,” he said.
Imran further accused the federal information minister of acting like a US State Department spokesperson.
The PTI chief, referring to an earlier parliamentary resolution, said all leaders had agreed to block Nato supply routes if there is a drone strike and that his party is wrongly criticised for practically doing it.
He also warned against taking US troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan as an end to foreign intervention in the region. He said US will be very much present in the neighbouring country and that the drone strikes will continue at least for a decade.
PML-N's retort
Shortly after this press conference, PML-N member Mushahid Ullah Khan said in a statement that whoever was leveling allegations at the party didn't have an interest in seeing democracy prosper in the country.
He said that the parties who were blaming PML-N for foul-play had made excessive use of the country's resources themselves.
Mushahid asserted that PML-N had done away with the system which only favoured the elite and was working tirelessly to provide benefits to the working class.
COMMENTS (51)
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Similar scheme was plañned by PPP govt, which was vigorously opposed by PML N political party and today same scheme with different ñame has been floated by PML N govt....what do PML N guys say..eh ! when we have such sort of politicians, we do not need enemy. I do not understand what will happen to this country....may Allah swt save,us.
@MbZ: With all due respect, no one has been to answer my initial question about IK's source of income. While NS has industries and Zardari has farmlands, I would like to know what is IK's source of income. Coming back to your concern about the topic, the issue of turning black money into white money and taxes is much bigger than IK can handle. If he has something to say, he should act like a politician and start proposing a resolution in parliament instead of making public speeches. IK has been mudslinging at other politicians but he has not done anything to work with them to solve problems which I feel is immature. Atleast NS has made an effort to do something about the tax issues which was not addressed in the past 5 years. I would also ask you to read my initial comment at the top before making comments about my age or personality.
@Tamur: The difference between you and us, we don't criticize/appreciate on the basis of loving/hating someone. You should have commented on whether the policy announced by Nawaz Sharif is wrong or right and whether Imran Khan's stance on it is right or wrong. Rather you chose personal attacks and mudslinging, a very quintessential feature of someone who has no clue. Sire! if you are done telling us about Imran Khan and his past now can we comeback to this "money whitening" scheme or you still have no clue what to comment?
Thank you.
@Tamur: Your comment has absolutely nothing to do with this action. Just shows your myopia. If Imran Khan hasn't done anything for poor in Pakistan then you need to work up son. That brings up one more question, how old are you?
Investments into Pakistan, as announced by corrupt politician by favouring corrupt investors with corrupt money and expect Pakistan to gain economically is like building the arch without the kingpin. Will Pakistan ever have an honest P.M. in this god forsaken country or will we have the two rotten dynasties rule us by hijacking our future, maintain our miseries and keep us in the dark ages? How can amnesty be offered to those who have already committed offences against the State of Pakistan by not paying taxes? Who are these perpetual offenders who treat Pakistan as their doorway mat?
Mr IK what is wrong in doing that by which some one start investing in country, Rather People keep there money in foreign banks, At least we will have some better economy.
@Raj - USA: Almost every post you make contain too much verbatim, gives me an impression that you're on unemployment benefits in US........
And this comes from a person whose party couldn't even impose and a single provincial Tax in KPK. And guess what the only thing taxed in provincial budget was NATO supplies. Ironic isn't it! Whats even more ironic is that the general secretary of his party i.e. Jahangir Tareen only pays effective 4% tax on his huge income and has been on the board of at least 6 companies either getting their loans written off or not paid. link text link text
We have a Major Opposition Leader who is in love head over heels with the most dangerous terrorist organisation of the world and People actually voted him in This Pro Taliban Khan is a evidence of our national stupidity
@pakistaniat: Don't care about your comments or literacy level which seems pretty low considering the fact that you are not aware that Jemima is his EX-WIFE and Diana is dead. Since you seem to be buddies with IK, IK does not have a source of income nor has he done any work or opened any industry so how do you explain his farmhouse and lavish lifestyle? Personally I do not like IK and did not vote for him.
Moderator: My previous comments were not published, but if this person is being allowed to post personal comments, then an appropriate response should also be published on your website.
When a businessman is PM of a country who can beat his business in that particular country? Absolutely nobody! For Pakistan, firstly it was Zardari and now it is Nawaz. Nawaz is finding out ways to legalize his black money. If you think Nawaz Sharif offered the incentive to pull out money of these businessmen's pockets, you are seriously misdguided. I would request the people of Pakistan to not follow their political heroes blindly. A little research on things clarifies everything.
There is no way Pakistan government can bring back black money stashed abroad. Letting the money lie there would only create more corruption and problems for Pakistan. These corruption would include manipulating elections through use of this black money and various other vices. This is the reality. So, the black money has to be brought back from abroad. So, an amnesty scheme that could bring back the black money should be preferable to allowing the money to remain abroad. However, laws and systems have to be developed to prevent creation of black money in the future and also to prevent illegal flow of money abroad. So, along with the amnesty scheme proper, efficient and effective laws and systems have to be developed to achieve these aims. Those given amnesty may be promised that they shall not be punished for their past actions but would be required to pay some tax, say a 10% tax on the undeclared income that they have stashed away in foreign countries. Proper and efficient monitoring in the future of these individuals, organizations, and the systems they use to evade tax and syphon money abroad would prevent creation of black economy and also widen the tax base. Blanket amnesty without laws and systems to prevent such repetitions is not good but an amnesty scheme with proper systems and procedures to prevent creation of black economy in the future would be good.
With all the money stashed in UK and Jeddah and in Dubai by Sharif brothers and their siblings, this scheme was very much on the cards. The hoopla that this is meant for investment is a hogwash...earlier money whitening scheme hasn't been successful. There is another aspect to it, the message it gives to the honest and deserving investor is that Pakistanis just not the place to put in your hard earned money in any form of investment, and it is the perfect place for money launderer, crook, corrupt clan of people, just like the people sitting at the helm of affairs. This is disgraceful, deplorable and downright shameful.
Imran khan u are right sir, but its been going on since 1979 rich are getting richer and poor poorer and specially last ten twenty years it got sky high now we are so help less and hope less too that some time we think why got seprated and all this mess from humans death to economic death...
Now we have 18th Amndment in place, why not the KP assembly change retrogressive laws and make KP province more friendly to invest, Running an Industry is copletely another game, constant utility supplies, skillful labors, water availabilities, easier tax compliances as well as lower Sales Tax rate and Excise, Must do away with Darconian compliances that penalised with high penalties. Go Ahead make changes, make easier, reduce taxation so industries expand to create more jobs. Do It, Now.
Excellent statement
Imran Khan can enjoy the luxuries in the UK wearing nice tuxedo that was made with wealth looted from the people of the Indian subcontinent during the imperialist era. Also lets not forget that the bank accounts of SKMT and PTI in foreign exchange were created to attract money that perhaps wasn't completely white - because there are no questions asked.
Imran Khan needs to show some maturity and should put his personal ambitions to become Prime Minister (infact, I think he is still my favorite for PM) with what Pakistan needs now.
I also dare Imran to go after the unorganized economy in KPK and flush out the illegal drug money.
Good luck.
What a man he is? God bless him.... Alone he is competing against all these mafias.... Superb.... IMRAN You are absolutely right....
reminds me of PPP money whitening scheme and how vehemently PML(N) opposed it, Now they using the same measures. Will the media now show them the mirror and play their recordings?
For an idealistic worker of PML N, it's a disaster that our PM is announcing NRO for the corrupt people. I protest against this move of NS and agree with IK on this issue. :(
@Ch. Allah Daad:
Or IK should ask Jahangir "Warren Buffet" Tareen to brief the Economic Managers of the country on how to operate and run mines without getting a license or approval from the KPK Government.
Mr. Khan has turned into typical political recently.
Imran should suggest or teach this goverment how to turn black into white, because no one knows more tricks than him. With sale price of one bed room flat, he bought 300 Kannal farm house in Islamabad are the tricks which should be taught to this government.
This amnesty scheme proves that government have details of those people who have enormous wealth but no proof of income. Why can't government tax their wealth? We need tax reforms, a difficult but reliable solution. "Qarz Utaro, Mulk Sanwaro" kinda schemes have failed in the past and would fail again. Learn the lesson this time, please!
Imran saheb: last year only 10,280 non salary Individuals declared income over Rs 10,00,000 per year. Government has to bring people in tax net. Think about it: with 25% more tax per year, your tax revenues Double in 4 years.
@Tamur: Can you prove what you are saying is true? Jemima had pretty close friendship with Diana. Thats why he was probably there. I dont know who you actually support honestly not interested in that. But surely do know about your literacy level.
The double game by the PMLN should stop along with the double talk and double crossing. This is like rewarding the corrupts and punishing the honest people. This is truly unacceptable.
Nawaz Sharif is an industrialist with a pile of wealth that he has not paid taxes on . You can expect from him that he is going to exempt fellow industrialists and capitalists from paying their dues under the guise of promoting investment. As the elected prime minister of the country ,he has a responsibility to ensure that the wealth of the country is distributed fairly -that means he has to act like a caretaker first and not like a businessman expecting to reap a profit. Evidently he has got his priorities wrong and like before is abusing his office into generating more wealth for himself and his friends rather than serving the needs of the common man. The common man to him and his business mates are no more than cheap labour. People get fooled into thinking his schemes will provide job security . Perhaps, in the short term people might get jobs while his cronies are making money , but when they go bankrupt who will shoulder the burden? If his government is serious and committed , they need to implement a comprehensive plan to educate, train , modernise the people into a disciplined , responsible workforce, otherwise little is going change and things will go from bad to worse. Nawaz Sharif is America's yes man in Pakistan , to keep Pakistan weak, dependant and subservient while it wages war with indiscriminate drone strikes. Imran Khan is the only politician who is taking a stand and taking action against the American aggression. Shame on Nawaz Sharif. Shame on the Army for not defending the territory of Pakistan.
@Umar: What is your level? When was the last time you did something for the country...eh!
Dear commentators....IK is right...all those parliamentary resolutions on drones are very much avaiable on récord, where in all parties agreed against drones, but today all parties are against it...what irony ! Pls guys stop being emotional and think practically....analyse the amnesty scheme please before you guys criticize IK.....
I don't know why IK is indulging in such technical gibberish which is way beyond his myopic intellect? His party's USA and European Chapters are already up in arms on the massive embezzelment of chanda and zakat money which were earmarked for SKMH but were instead diverted to political activities like those Disco Deewanay type nach gana Jalsas. Where is the report of that forensic audit that IK promised to ascertain on how those funds amounting to billions were spent?
The guy who has not worked a day in his life since 1992, has no source of income and yet lives a lifestyle fit for a king, not paid a dime in taxes since 2002 and yet he has the galls to preach morality to others. Has he asked Asad Umar to explain his role on manipulating the price of fertilizer which resulted in Engro Chemicals being fined heavily by the Competition Commission of Pakistan? The less said the better about JKT....reason is that Learjet which a freeloader like IK uses his it as his personal transport.
What a sad state of affairs of Pakistan when the politicians and the people cannot see the truth and support it. That only shows that the whole country is mired in corruption and there is no way that Pakistan can be seen in any other light other than a failed, corrupt and a finished country. IMRAN KHAN can only do the right thing and keep fighting for what is right but sadly Pakistan is not going to change. Only ALLAH can use his might to change the destiny of Pakistan for which IMRAN KHAN is shouting but the people and rulers are so engrossed in their stolen wealth that they have forgotten they are muslims first and foremost. SHAME SHAME SHAME.PAKISTANIS.
Thank God I left that country. I was paying my due share of taxes honestly. But all I was seeing around me was that the rich and corrupt were hiding their wealth while honest and hardworking, educated guys were punished more and more for their honesty. Imran Khan is dead right. This is a disaster in making. Its against the natural laws of justice too.You dont protect the criminals and punish honest. Its the other way around in all the civilized societies. No wonder Pakistan is in such a mess and it shall dig deeper into chaos.
Anti America "Chooran" has now been passed on to PTI and Jamat-e-Islami has appointed PTI as the sole distributor of this chooran now :D
@Umar:
There is also an American funded puppet by way of having his son "inserted" in the office of Sen. John Kerry once. Whatever has happened to him? Lolzz.
Dear IK - watcha gotta say about properties changing hands through "Beenami Transactions" between ex-husbands and wives?
100 % agree with ImranKhan
He is so right.
IK has dug up his own grave by poking PML-N with the wrong end of the stick, as usual. By blaming PML-N without any proof and merit, he has resorted to his pre-May 11th rhetoric of speaking first and thinking later and has diluted any chance of a consensus with the ruling party on the issues of drones and NATO supply lines. If this is political gimmickry, than rest assured that PML-N is a master at skullduggery and would hit IK and PTI where it hurts the most - like PML-N always has.
The likes of Rana Sanaullah will now have the license to make merry.
Imran Khan 100% correct on all points. When will our people realize the country is at stake, because people want to gain points for their party for criticizing Imran Khan? This is a courageous stand from PTI, KP/FATA people support you fully.
Not a friendly Opposition Mr. Nawaz shareef. Face it
Its Industrialis NRO...which include Nawaz himself
LoL. Grow up Imran Khan this is above your level. You just keep to your level and that is lead the mob of people and that's all. You are hiding your failure in government of KPK by using abusive language against your opponents and shouting DRONE DRONE DRONE!!!!
Imran is dead right. But unfortunately American funded puppets are so much powerful in the country that they hijack the issue by spreading stupid and very misleading logic. I think Nawaz only wakes up when drones strikes in Punjab and who knows very near to raiwind.
I must agree Ik on this one, he is right, any attempt at helping the thugs to legalize ill gotten wealth tantamount to encouraging corruption. Allowing the thugs to whiten the black money is a double edged sword, it not only reinforces the belief held by the criminals and corrupt that they do not need fearing laws or follow the rules but it also sends wrong message to the honest and principled folks that honesty is bad policy and criminal means to amassing wealth are viable ways and it pays (in the end to cheat and steal) and perhaps an option.
Imran Khan, Your Terror justifying statements support the terrorists.
They LOVE MONEY - When that comes in their pocket become HALAL. IK - They are manufacturer and guarantors of CORRUPT SYSTEM.
IK, you are an English slave who wore tucks and were smiling with the Prince of Wales in London. You had a rich Jewish wife who still funds your lavish lifestyle. Atleast industrialists are providing jobs and helping the economy, whereas you are sitting in a lavish farmhouse funded through charity from your hospital. What have you done for the poor in this country? How many industries have you opened?
1,2,3 ....go!!!!