Siraj terms tax amnesty violation of Constitution

LAHORE

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq said tax amnesty scheme was a blatant violation of Article 4, Section 25 of the constitution and a negation of election promises of the ruling PML-N.

In his comments on prime minister’s announcement of tax amnesty, Sirajul Haq said on Saturday PML-N leadership in its election campaign had vowed to recover the plundered public money from the bellies of the corrupt but now it was benefiting the same plunderers and discriminating against the poor masses who were being heavily taxed.

He said by announcing tax amnesty at this stage, the government was tempting the corrupt elements to amass maximum wealth during the next two years, which was a clear patronage of the corruption mafia. The government is giving shelter to those who have misappropriated trillions from the public exchequer to the tune of trillions, he added. By virtue of this amnesty, the members of the looters' club will get certificates of law abiding, honest citizenship by paying only one percent of the plundered money.

He said the Constitution gave equal rights to all citizens but the ruling junta was giving undue concessions to those who usurped the rights of others. He said tax amnesty scheme was an open inducement to the people to plunder billions of black money for years and then get it whitened simply by paying a nominal amount.

He demanded the finance minister to give an account of the “Qarz Utaro, Mulk  Sanwaro” scheme introduced during the PML-N’s previous term in office.

He said general public in the country was finding it hard to make both ends meet and the government was charging from them excessively high utilities bills. Instead of providing relief to masses, rulers are trying to benefit those plundering public money, concealing their wealth and indulging in black-marketing, smuggling and target killing and kidnappings for ransom.

He said elite ruling and forces of status quo were bent upon making basic changes in the Constitution to save themselves from the clutches of law. However, he said all such efforts would be foiled with the public support.