Opposition boycotts Punjab PA on Finance Bill

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Friday passed the Finance Bill (Amendment) 2014 amidst a boycott of the joint opposition against reviving the old taxation system in the province.

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan moved the Finance Bill (Amendment) 2014 after relaxing the assembly rules containing amendment of reviving the previous taxation system after abolishing the current legislation of reducing the provincial taxes from 20 per cent to 10 per cent. Nevertheless, opposition leader Mian Mahmood Rasheed opposed the amendment terming it a drone attack on the masses. He lamented that the treasury had all of a suddenly brought the amendment without consulting the opposition members.

He said he had failed to understand the urgency of brining the amendment overnight which was against public interest. He claimed the government had made the legislation of decreasing the taxation system from 20 per cent to 10 per cent in larger public interest but the legislation was being withdrawn without giving its benefit to the masses.

He declared that the opposition would not become part of the evil decision so they were boycotting the assembly proceedings in protest. Afterwards, the joint opposition walked out of the house.

Nevertheless, the Law Minister Rana Sana explained the reason behind moving the amendment draft and claimed that they had previously made legislation on reducing the property tax from 20 per cent to 10 per cent with the objective of reviewing draft valuation tables which had not been revised for the last 12 years.

The draft valuation tables for the revision of property tax were published for soliciting objections and suggestions. The tax payers in general and the business community in particular raised concern on the revised draft valuation tables which were almost 10 per cent more than the 12 years old levied taxes.

Instead of transferring a huge taxation burden on the masses the government has decided to hold the final revised valuation list in abeyance and to restore the previous tax liability of the tax payers on the basis of previous valuation tables, he added.

He alleged the opposition leader had decided to boycott without having any understanding of the amendment. Afterwards, the treasury passed the bill in the absence of the opposition.

Immediately after the passage of the bill the opposition joined the assembly proceedings. The Speaker prorogued the session for an indefinite time.