A file photo of PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: IMRAN KHAN'S FACEBOOK PAGE
ISLAMABAD: Criticising Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the rising sales tax on petroleum products, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said on Sunday that the Sharifs always burden the poor with indirect taxes to subsidise the rich.
In clear violation of the Supreme Court orders, the government on December 31, 2014, announced an increase in the sales tax rate on petroleum products from 17% to 22%, putting a 30% tax burden on consumers.
RELATED POST: Benefits withheld: Sales tax on petroleum products jacked up by 5%
Taking to his Twitter account, the chief said a five per cent increase in the sales tax clearly reflects the premier’s anti-poor policies.
Sharifs always burden the poor with indirect taxes to subsidise the rich. 5% GST raise on petroleum products reflects this anti-poor policy.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 1, 2015
“During all his three tenures as Prime Minister, Nawaz’s policies have widened the gulf between the haves and the have-nots,” he added.
During all his 3 tenures as PM, NS's policies have widened the gulf between the haves and the have-nots.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 1, 2015
The government’s decision also sparked an uproar in Parliament last month as the Opposition staged a unified walkout and called the move unconstitutional.
“This decision is unconstitutional and in total violation of Supreme Court judgments,” said Senator Raza Rabbani (PPP, Sindh).
RELATED POST: GST hike: Uproar in Senate over petroleum tax increase
The senator also referred to Article 77 of the Constitution in the Senate, which states that taxes can only be imposed through legislation.
COMMENTS (38)
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@PTI Workers United: Looks like you just woke up.
We, the thousands of overseas Pakistanis paid for the dharnas.All expenses are audited by Ferguson. Go to PTI website and get all the asset declarations of all the people affiliated with PTI that you mentioned (http://insaf.pk/about-us/leadership-assets). Jahangir Tareen, was, by the way, listed amongst the top tax payers by your beloved government. As for Reham's tax declaration, I'll leave that to your intelligence level.
He who pays for the Dharna must first pay his taxes. Tareen, Shah Memmood and dont forget reham
@Adnan Siddiqi: remnant disproportionate money could only stay at your disposal when bureaucracy is seized to make money in projects(deliberately projects not pursued by them) and corruption trend to be dwindled, Punjab, federal Govt , Sindh Govt are making unprecedented record in corruption, if i try to write space provided on ET would be shorten @Faraz: i can write 100s of sentences like these for shrifs and zardari,
Khan Sahab i was a big fan of your struggle but you seemed to achieve your goal by your new wedding, your priorities have been visible now, so please now at least you should be kool n calm and stop fooling people. We don't trust anyone now.
@ABC:
You want to know why? Because one Shareef happens to be the Prime Minister and the other is the Chief Minister of Pakistan's biggest province. "The Whole Tax Money of this nation" is being used on used on different development heads in Pakistan. If Punjab is utilizing the tax money on public services like Metro, than no one should be complaining as no one is stopping other provinces from doing the same. The funds apportioned through NFC Award are spent by the provinces as they deem appropriate.
@Adnan Siddiqi:
Would you like to tell, why the whole tax money of this nation is used on the security of Shareef brothers, Lahore and metros?
@Hassan:
Agreed that KPK government has set new benchmarks of best practices. Now would you care to tell why the KPK government failed to utilize more than 60% of its PSDP during the 2013-2014 fiscal year?
I thinks Sharif's managers has started countering PTI on ET also. Number of Ante- PTI recommendations are recently on rise. Maybe they have deputed especially paid people over there of course they plenty of money to save their political image.
In today's newspaper NS has been quoted in saying at Raiwind to pass on the benefit of reduced fuel prices to general public. This is how a typical capitalist talks and behave; reducing the prices and raising the sales tax on Petroleum products. What sort of leaders we elect? there is only one world shameless faces. By the way don't take me as a PTI supporter; Politics is all about fooling people for personal image of politician and there are no exceptions.
A Peshawary.
@jak:
Please enlighten us on how KPK is better than the rest of the provinces? Oh yes....PTI government launched mobile courts with much fanfare notwithstanding that the same mobile courts have now turned into hulking rust buckets in the confines of Peshawar High Court. You folks would then harp on Police being "Apolitical" to such an extent that it not deem necessary to act upon intel alerts of impending attacks on D.I. Khan jail and the APS attack in Peshawar. How many corrupts officials and politicians in KPK have been arrested for corruption and graft? If IK is to be believed (which he never will be), ANP indulged in corrupt practices amounting to billions yet not even a single graft case has been lodged against functionary of ANP government that ruled KPK between 2008-2013.
The federal government has already done its part in substantially slashing the prices of gasoline. What kind of trickle down effect has happened in KPK? What kind of relief has the revolutionary ruling party in KPK provided to the people in KPK? Do you seriously believe that a federal government is suppose to set the prices of tandoori naan and transportation cost in a province? In the event you had been asleep till now, the 18th amendment has now granted enormous powers to the province.
Such bizarre & irrelevant comments. The love & hatred for NS & IK takes over every average mind and succesfully takes away the focus on the core issue. Firstly, I believe govt. is right in raising the sales tax in order to reduce the deficits and shortcomings in the economy. Govt. need money and this could be the time when POL prices are going down. Secondly, yes, this is not the right way to approach. Keep squeezing the feeble until the last drop of blood. The rich has never and will never pay their fair taxes. Irrespective of NS, Zardari or Mush, a certain class has never paid their taxes, so no blame game here. Any govt in Pakistan will always turn towards Sales Tax to fulfill the gap, trust me, even if the so called nation savior IK comes in power. Lastly, IK statement is just another criticism to the govt. Usually his criticism is not irrational. He's right in a way, but he never has a solution. This govt is corrupt, elections were rigged, sales tax is no solution, then what is... Mr. IK?
@Peshawar: Get your eye sight tested please. KPK is doing far better than other provinces.Economic policies are decided by federal and not by provincial govt.
@Adnan Siddiqi,
PTI government has lowered the provincial GST from 16% to 15% since coming into power and committed to cut 1% for every budgeted year onwards.
Compare this with PML(N), since coming in to power they raised GST from 16% to a minimum of 17% and in some instances people end up paying up to 19%. For petrol it now stands at 27%.
If you have doubts, then go and read budget documents of Federal and KP Government. Some objective research might loosen your blindfold.
KPK is in a mess,please pay a little more attention to what your provincial government is doing.
Imran Khan, like Altaf Bhai, is right again. The glass is half empty. Meanwhile, me and my friends line up our bikes for petrol without fearfully clutching our wallets.
IK ur criticism is again unnecessary. U were the looser in election 2013, Looser in London Plan, Looser in gathering 1 million people in Islamabad along with 1 lac motorbikes, Looser in Dharna Drama for toppling the govt, Looser in Third umpire raising fingure, looser in NA122 election tribunal. Plz change ur name from IK to looser. Big Big Big looser
When petrol was 107 per liter, govt was retaining 18.36 per liter, And now petrol is 70 per liter, govt is retaining 19.32 per liter. Passed on the 37 per liter benefit with only increase of 0.92 per liter. Moreover, in Pakistan the petrol prices have been increase rapidly amongst all South Asia. Gr8 work by PMLn one have the heart to appreciate the good work. Thank you Nawaz
No trust on Imran who is Master of U Turns.
@Adnan Siddiqi: give ensured security to kpk, let get out the kpk from interdependence on federal Govt, give majority to imran then always talk about kpk, no one is oblivious that kpk is bond with FATA, an area declared by international community as most dangerous place of the world, state writ is scanty, even powerful army both at arms and soft power is still struggling to confine terrorists, and you always talk about kpk without posing any solid argumentation, vote for NS , results from Imran khan Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity”.
Mr. Khan, what have you done in KPK. PTI has badly failed in KPK. Please concentrate on the province.
Go Imran Go. Stay Nawaz Stay.
The rich will still get away paying taxes and those paying taxes... will continue to pay more. What a bunch of hypocrite Noora supporters.
Come Out and Throw This Garbage and Corrupt System in Arabian Sea
The poor dont drive cars, the rich do and can afford to pay, since they love to evade taxes
@Anon: It is so shameful and stooping so low on your part to bring in Reham in this discussion. Grow up man.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Plz, come to your senses instead of making mockery, provide solid rebuttal and be relevant, because i quite often read post from this ID and found you trying to inculcate others be rational and consolidated
Sales tax is a regressive tax any where in the world. Any government which relies on sales tax do burden the lower income bracket. It did not surprise me that this government in Islamabad would rather burden the poor than those who don't pay their fair share of taxes, National and Provincial assemblies are full of those kind of people. The traders like the Sharif family are notorious for devising methods to cheat the national income tax outfits.
Taxpayer funded PML-N trolls commenting as usual.
Why does he not slam NS on his anti terrorism policy?
Those bashing IK on this issue are idiots. Sales tax is a direct burden on the poor. On the other hand Nawaz lowers corporate tax, not to mention the ultra rich who don't even pay tax!
@Ch. Allah Daad: So our Allah-Daad brother is there to perform his duty of bashing IK. I would have loved if he talked with facts and figures rather than leveling baseless allegations.
@a&a: IKs records are right. This is bad journalism by ET staff.
Nation stands strong with IK. NS has ruined his reputation too dirty to rule anymore.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Wonderful critique. Instead of being upset for the poor you sir twisted NS anti Pakistan policies into IK bashing material.
the clown continues to amuse
Imran is upset because he can cheat direct taxes but cannot cheat on indirect taxes. The indirect taxes are hidden in retail price, therefore he cannot refuse to pay them. However he should not worry about all kinds of taxes because there are still many investors who would gladly fill his car's petrol tank. They still have high hopes for him.
Imran please update your records, they have again raised GST rates to 27% with effect from 1st February 2015...... Good luck to Poor Pakistani.....
Imran, Please have Reham pay her taxes. Then tell the nation your views on taxes.