KARACHI: 14TH NOVEMBER 2010
The Founder and Leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Mr. Altaf Hussain has categorically said that MQM will not become part of any step that goes against the interest of the people of the country. While talking to the members of the Co-ordination Committee, federal and provincial ministers, and parliamentarians he said that the salaried class will be directly hit by the imposition of flood surcharge, RGST and additional property tax in Sindh and it would tantamount to asking the people to commit suicide. He reiterated that instead of burdening the people with new taxes the government should bring the agricultural income under tax net, take action against tax evaders and cut on non-developmental expenses.
Mr Altaf Hussain said that it was known to everyone that the landed aristocracy, businessmen, politicians and bureaucrats either did not pay any tax at all or cause huge loss to the national exchequer by evading taxes. He regretted that the privileged class in the country paid only 2 per cent of the total tax collected in the country which he said was gross injustice to salaried people. He warned that the new taxes would bring in its fold a wave of price hikes. He said that instead of levying tax on the income of these big landlords, businessmen who did not pay their taxes honestly, the salaried class was being burdened with additional taxes.
Mr Altaf Hussain said that the government can save billions of rupees by cutting lavish expenses of the President, Prime Minister and Governor Houses, by reducing non-developmental expenses and earn up to 2 to 3 thousand billion rupees by widening the tax net and taking stern action against the tax evasion. He said that the government was spending billions of rupees in support for Pakistan Steel Mills, Railways and PIA whereas these institutions were falling apart by massive corruption and maladministration. He said that it only corruption is eliminated from these institutions, they can become profitable in no time.
Referring to the soaring prices of sugar, Mr Altaf Hussain said that the Supreme Court fixed Rs. 40/- per kilogram but the order of the Supreme Court was not implemented. He said that it was the result of complicity of sugar mill owners and the hoarders that the price of sugar had skyrocketed. He said that the price of sugar was made to increase from Rs. 25/- per kilogram to Rs. 125/- per kilogram that resulted in windfall profit of billions of rupees to the sugar mill companies. He said that no action was taken against the profiteers and hoarders because they either belonged to the treasury benches or opposition benches.
Mr Altaf Hussain stressed upon the parliamentarians of the party to discharge their responsibility with honesty and highlight the issues of the people.