MQM REJECTS FLOOD SURCHARGE

KARACHI: 30^TH SEPTEMBER 2010

MQM has rejected the imposition of additional tax on the salaried class in the name of flood surcharge and has demanded the government to levy tax on the agricultural incomes of big landlords instead of burdening the people with new tax.
This was conveyed to the Prime Minister by a four member delegation of MQM headed by Deputy Convener of the Co-ordination Committee and Parliamentary Leader of MQM in the National Assembly Dr. Farooq Sattar. The meeting took place in the chambers of the Prime Minister in the Parliament on his invitation. MQM delegation included former City Nazim of Karachi and member Co-ordination Committee Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister Babar Ghori and Deputy Parliamentary Leader of MQM I n the National Assembly Hyder Abbass Rizvi.
Present situation in the country came under discussion in the meeting. MQM delegation stressed the need for concrete steps to meet the challenges faced by the country in the aftermath of the floods. Opposing the imposition of flood surcharge, the delegation informed the Prime Minister that the new tax would put an additional burden on the salaried people who are already facing hardships due to price hikes and unemployment.
The delegation expressed reservation on continuing to keep the landed aristocracy exempt from tax even in the face of critical economic condition of the country. They said that it was need of the hour to bring the big landlords under tax net instead of burdening common people. The Prime Minister heard the reservations of MQM and stressed the need for better relations between allied political parties. He said that he wanted to take all the parties along particularly the MQM.