Further cracks have appeared in the ranks and files of traders, as they are bracing for second shutter-down strike in less than a week against imposition of 0.3 percent withholding tax on all banking transactions on Wednesday (today).
Traders will observe a shutter down strike across the country on Wednesday on the call of All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran, however Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran Islamabad/Rawalpindi chapter distanced itself from the call, saying they would muster support for National Tajir Ittehad with the backing of political parties against the imposition of WHT on banking transactions.
Talking to Business Recorder Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry, President Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran Islamabad/Rawalpindi, said that the WHT would be resisted with tooth and nail. One group of traders played the role of B-team of the government, accepting 0.3 percent withholding tax on all banking transactions, which damaged their cause, said Chaudhry. He said that a call for strike at national level would be given soon against the withholding tax. Earlier, he addressed a press conference and announced their dissociation with the strike call for Wednesday.
Rift among traders associations was already witnessed when different associations had given different protest dates against the government decision of imposing 0.6 percent withholding tax on all banking transactions. All Pakistan Traders Association held protest demonstrations across the country on August 1, while Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) had announced to hold protest on August 3 which was later withdrawn.
Atiq Mir Chairman of AKTI told Business Recorder that traders would stick to their decision of holding shutter-down strike on Wednesday against the government decision of imposition of withholding tax on banking transactions. The imposition of withholding tax on all banking transactions was unacceptable to traders. The August 01 protest was being sponsored by the government with the objective of creating a division between traders and by promoting disunity in community through which the government hopes to quell all resistance from the traders. He said his association was the real representatives of all traders and their protest would be on August 05. Mir further accused the government of sponsoring a protest and publicising it through media.
The traders vowed that they would not accept withholding tax on banking transactions and called upon the government to immediately withdraw WHT on banking transactions. They said that the government should avoid coercive measures for tax collection and make efforts to expand tax net in consultation with all stakeholders including business leaders of the country.