Updated on
Summary
In the emergency meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, political parties could not reach consensus as MQM and PML-N were stick to their reservations and JUI decided to boycott RGST approval. In the meeting, dissenting note was submitted by committee chairman against the approval of Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST). Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue Senator Ahmed Ali of the MQM said he brought entire matters relating the RGST to the knowledge of Chairman of Senate. He informed the Senate chairman that his plane was deliberately halted in London and it was unlawful to approve the RGST in his absence. He said that he has reservations over RGST and he will not sign it at this time. Ali met with Senate Chairman Farooq Naik and recorded his protest over holding of meeting in his absence and forwarded his dissenting note on RSGT to the Senate Chairman. It was written in the note that 14 days time should be given to call the meeting which was not given and delay in his flight in London was made deliberately. On the other hand, JUI (F) has decided to vote against the RGST. JUI leader Maulana Sheerani said that RGST was an anti-people tax thats why the party will vote against it. Meanwhile, the negotiations between government and MQM held in Karachi to agree the later over RGST approval were deadlocked.
