Former PML-N leaders, info minister exchange tirade over tax-heavy budget
Pakistan
Former PML-N leaders, info minister exchange tirade over tax-heavy budget
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Information Minister Attaullah Tarar got into a rare public exchange with former leaders of the ruling PML-N Miftah Ismail and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi regarding the issue of taxation in budget 2024-25.
In a joint presser, the pair took aim at the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stating that “such a budget is not going to do any good.”
After leaving his position as senior vice president of the PML-N last year, former PM Abbasi attacked the government’s decision to increase the taxes on the working class while mentioning that the country would not make any progress unless the elites are brought under the tax net.”
“No reform agenda is included in the (recent) budget.” The former premier said all the ruling coalition parties were responsible for presenting the tax-laden budget.
Abbasi added that the coalition parties should act to stop the government imposing harsh taxes on the masses while highlighting that the inability or rather culpability of government for not taxing the tobacco sector.
Information Minister Tarar, as expected, clapped back at the former PML-N leaders for their ‘distortion of facts’.
“Two of our former colleagues presented false statistics,” he said.
He added, “Nawaz Sharif made Shahid Khaqan Abbasi the PM of the country and he was part of every government of the PML-N.”
He added that both Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismael have not read the budget document meticulously.
He said the PM has not been taking his salary and perks to support the ailing economy in this hour of difficulty while highlighting that they both should also applaud the good deeds of government.
He also satirically asked a question, that whether they both have reservations that government’s efforts have reduced inflation.
