KARACHI, Oct 2: The Edhi Foundation on Saturday threatened to suspend its ambulance service across the country if the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) did not permit unconditional release of 112 vehicles the foundation imported from China for welfare work.

In a press release, a spokesman for the Edhi Foundation said 112 vans, pick-ups, and double-cabin vehicles had been imported from China, to be used as ambulances to shift unclaimed bodies to different hospitals, patients to and from their houses, for transporting coffins, and rescue and relief work in emergencies.

He claimed that many NGOs had imported vehicles on which the government had exempted taxes and duties. But it was a great injustice to the Edhi Foundation that the CBR had levied taxes and duties on its vehicles.

The spokesman said Abdus Sattar Edhi, founder of the welfare organization, had sought an appointment with President Pervez Musharraf to apprise him of this injustice.

Mr Edhi pinned all his hopes on the meeting, he added.