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ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday announced to organize a power show in Islamabad’s Parade Ground and called for nationwide protests next week. He has also moved Supreme Court to challenge recent amendments to the National Accountability (NAB) Ordinance by the coalition government.
Addressing a news conference at Bani Gala today, the former PM said that he is going to organize a massive protest at Parade Ground next week and asked people to stage protests in major cities across the country.
He also lashed out at the government for revising taxes on salaried class and imposition of ‘super tax’ on the corporate sector as he warned the people that a new ‘storm of inflation’ is impending.
Khan criticized the current rulers, saying that they pushed Pakistan to the brink of disaster in the name of amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law.
“They were not prepared to improve the national economy nor did they have any plan to control inflation,” Khan added.
He further said that the effect of the super tax was visible in the stock market which crashed by 5%, adding that the corporate tax soar to 40% after fresh imposition.
The former prime minister compared that the corporate tax in India and Bangladesh is only 25%, adding that its hiked rate would slow down industrial growth in Pakistan.
PTI chairman said the tax relaxation on salaried class has been reversed which would hammer them down financially.
“PTI government collected record tax in Pakistan’s history and was working to broaden the tax net,” Khan said, “Shehbaz government has already increased fuel prices and increasing tax rate will crush the people.”
Imran Khan lambasted the current government for crushing people with massive hikes in fuel, gas and electricity prices, warning that the fuel prices would be raised further.
He also criticized the coalition government for having no plan to fix the economy and bringing a dummy budget for optics.
The PTI chairman said that the current rulers are only focused on getting NRO-II just like they had been awarded NRO-I by the military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
“For the first time in history, a temporary budget was presented in Pakistan,” said the former premier, “They are consistently increasing the oil prices which is increasing the inflation rate. They are now bringing another budget and they have economically murdered the common man.”
“The petroleum levy is going to be imposed besides increasing the oil prices. The rate of per liter petrol would be increased up to Rs50 in the name of petroleum levy. They will put more burden on the common man, whereas, a super tax is also imposed that will hike the inflation rate to 40%.” He added.
Also Read: Government caves in to IMF demand, increases tax-rate for salaried class
The PTI chairman said that Farmers would bear brunt of expensive diesel and load-shedding. The salaried segment of the society has already been struggling due to inflation and now, the agriculture sector is also being destroyed.
PTI Challenged NAB Amendments
The former Prime Minister Imran claimed the recent amendments turned the country in a banana republic. And NAB laws would drive the country towards destruction.
He added that the PTI has challenged the amendments in the Supreme Court today and expressed hope that the judiciary would not let this ‘cruelty’ happen to Pakistan.
In his petition filed under the article 184 (3) of the constitution, the PTI chairman has named federal government and National Accountability Bureau as respondent.
In the petition filed today, the former prime minister prayed to the apex court to declare all amendments made to sections 2, 4, 5, 26, 6, 14, 15, 23, 21 and 25 null and void since they were against the constitution.
PTI کے چئیرمین عمران خان کیجانب سے نیب ترامیم کو سپریم کورٹ آف پاکستان میں چیلینج کرتے ہوئے دستور کے آرٹیکل 184(3) کے تحت باضابطہ درخواست دائر کردی گئی ہے ۔ #RegimeChangeInPakistan pic.twitter.com/19U1bK0K6A
— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 25, 2022
The petition stated that the amendments have virtually eliminated the possibility to prosecute any white-collar crime committed by a public office holder.
The petition further claimed that the amendments are against the basic rights guaranteed in article 9, 14, 19A, 24, and 25 of the constitution.
The petitioner named Law and Justice Division and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as respondents in the case.
The former PM further said that the recent amendments are in clear violation of the constitution.
On June 9, the joint session of the Parliament had passed the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill 2021. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarrar presented the bill in the joint session of Parliament.
President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi had previously refused to sign the bill, while stating that he believes the bill, as passed by the parliament, is regressive in nature, and it will promote corruption by ensuring that the long arm of the law is crippled.
According to law, cases pertaining to tax evasion, federal or provincial cabinets, and state banks have been deemed out of NAB’s jurisdiction, the notification said.
“Now onwards NAB must complete inquiries within a period of six months,” as per new law.