HYDERABAD: On a call given by the All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajran, traders in parts of Sindh held protests on Wednesday against imposition of withholding tax on bank transactions and withdrawal of over Rs50,000 cash.

Some of their leaders threatened to boycott bank transaction on Sept 4 if the tax was not abolished.

In Hyderabad, they protested at Anaj Mandi Sakhi Pir Chowk, carrying banners and placards. They shouted slogans against the federal government and demanded abolition of “unfair” withholding tax of 0.3 per cent. The protest was led by Anjuman Tajran-i-Sindh general secretary Mohammad Attaur Rehman and senior vice president Abdul Saleem Arain.

They said traders would boycott all bank transactions on Sept 4 and threatened to widen the scope of their protest if the government did not abolish it.In Jacobabad, traders took out a rally under the banner of Anjuman Tajran.

According to reports, the protesters marched on different roads of Jacobabad city while chanting slogans against the finance minister and held a sit-in at Sarafa Chowk.

Addressing the gathering, Anjuman Tajran president Mir Ahmed Ali Brohi, Sarafa Associ­a­tion president Samiullah Surhio, Hindu Punchayat president Lal Chand Seetlani, Muhammad Yusuf Memon and others said the Nawaz government had an anti people minister who on different pretexts was imposing taxes on people.

They said the Nawaz League had made such a finance minister who was disturbing peaceful business activities and had disappointed the business community.

On one hand, the Nawaz government talked about extending relief to people while on the other they took anti-people steps, they said.

They threatened to observe a shutter down strike on Oct 9 if the federal finance minister was not removed immediately and the withholding tax was not abolished.Different trade organisations in Sukkur took out a rallies against the withhold tax.

A big rally was taken out from Sarafa Bazar led by Anjuman Tajran Sukkur vice president and Sukkur Small Traders president Haji Muhammad Jawed Memon.

Carrying a big banner inscribed with slogans against withholding tax and for removal of the federal finance minister, the protesters marched on different roads and gathered at the clock tower roundabout where leaders of different trade organisations addressed them.

Jawed Memon and others said traders were the backbone of country’s economy who were striving for development and prosperity of the country. The speakers said they were paying different taxes through utility bills and other ways, but imposition of withholding tax on bank transaction was quite unjustified. Traders were not ready at any cost to pay it.

They said that in the second phase, the trade community would boycott bank transactions on Sept 4, which would caste a negative impact on the economy. In the third phase, a shutter down strike would be observed on Sept 9 throughout the country. The federal finance minister would be responsible for these protests, they added.

They said that instead of extending facilities or relief to the trade community, the government was imposing taxes which were being spent on luxuries.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play