KARACHI, May 30: An All-Parties Conference organised by the Jamaat-i-Islami here on Friday demanded withdrawal of all taxes on petroleum products and drastic cuts in non-productive spending in order to overcome the food crisis and deteriorating economic condition of the country.

The APC, presided over by the JI’s Naib Amir, Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, was held at the Idara Noor-i-Haq as part of the campaign against inflation and unemployment launched by the JI and its half-a-dozen allied parties, including PML-N, JUI-F and PTI.

The conference adopted several resolutions urging the government to transform the country into a truly Islamic welfare state, strengthen economy, contain employment and control inflation, besides creating an environment conducive to investment. It suggested fixing of a general sales tax (GST) at five per cent.The APC called for a parliamentary debate on military spending and budgetary allocations for defence.

It observed that the rising prices and unemployment which had already caused many destitute people to kill themselves was now forcing families to commit suicide collectively.

Prof Ghafoor told the conference that after rejecting General Pervez Musharraf and his policies through the Feb 18 ballot, the masses had pinned all their hopes on the PPP-PML-N coalition for economic relief but it had so far failed to come up to their expectations. He regretted that the PPP was still trying to protect Gen Musharraf and pursue his unpopular policies.

The JI leader also stressed restoration of the pre-Nov 3 judiciary without any further delay.