Increase in GST, imposition of RDs: Opposition members stage walkout from National Assembly session

Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and other opposition parties on Friday staged walkout from the National Assembly in protest against imposition of regulatory duties and increase in General Sales Tax (GST) on petroleum products.
The opposition members urged the government to immediately withdraw the recent 5 percent increase in taxes on petroleum products and other commodities. They said that the government should increase direct taxes to provide maximum relief to the poor. The opposition members said that they have given sufficient time to the government to reduce the taxes but the government didn't pay any heed to their demand.
Dr Nafisa Shah of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said the opposition members were expecting that Finance Minister would announce relief for the poor, but he did not do so. "The Government has issued a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) for imposing taxes on petroleum products and regulatory duties. It was issued to reduce budgetary deficit. It is not an ordinary SRO, but it is to promote SRO culture and the government has set a precedent for future dispensations," she said.
She said that the government was following the dictates of International Monetary Fund (IMF). "We will welcome, if the government wants to impose tax for the on-going military operation against the terrorists and National Action Plan (NAP). But the government should explain the reasons for imposing taxes," she added. She said that the Opposition Leader had requested the Finance Minister to with draw 5 percent increase in GST and regulatory duty on furnace oil but he did not bother.
Abdul Rasheed Godail of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that PML-N had adopted anti-poor policy. He said that GST and regulatory duties were regressive taxes and further burden the poor. He said that there were other ways to collect taxes to reduce revenue shortfall.
He said that the government should impose direct taxes on the rich. He urged the government to withdraw taxes which have recently been imposed. Afterward, he announced to stage walkout from the House in protest. He said that the opposition members could also discuss the matter of taxes in the standing committee of the House. State Minister for Interior Baleegh-ur-Rahman said that the price of petrol was lowest in Pakistan as compared to the South Asian region. He said that the government was imposing direct tax. We were imposing tax on luxury cars, he said. Afterwards, Sher Akbar Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) pointed out quorum in the House. After counting, it was revealed that the House was not in order; consequently the Deputy Speaker prorogued the House for indefinite time.