HYDERABAD, April 4: Activists of three factions of the Jeay Sindh movement and employees of income tax department held a demonstration here on Friday against closure of Kotri, Tando Allahyar and Tando Mohammad Khan IT circles.

Speakers at the rally, held outside the local press club, warned the government that if the three IT circles were not restored and if any employee of them was sacked, they would be forced to appeal to the taxpayers of the areas not to pay income tax.

They challenged the argument of the income tax department and the central board of revenue that the three IT circles were incurring losses.

They said that three universities, two powerhouses and more than 200 factories were located in the jurisdiction of the Kotri circle and the total number of taxpayers, registered with it, was 3,037.

The speakers said that the circle had achieved a target of recovery of Rs80 million last year and added that 2,000 more residents of the area could be brought into income tax net by making some efforts.

About the area of the Tando Allahyar circle, they said that it housed a university, four sugar mills and more than 50 petrol pumps.

They said that the taluka, which had 1,849 registered income taxpayers, had generated an income of Rs5.8 million last year.

About Tando Mohammad Khan income tax circle, they said that five sugar mills and more than 25 rice mills were located in the jurisdiction of the circle which had 2,757 registered income taxpayers.

They said that the circle, which also included Matli taluka, had generated a revenue of Rs50 million last year.

They also challenged the claim of the CBR that the three circles had been closed to facilitate the income taxpayers and the lawyers community, adding that now they would have to travel 50 to 150 kilometres to come to Hyderabad city.

They pointed out that the income tax department used to pay a rent of Rs14,400 per month for the three circle buildings but after their closure, a rent of Rs45,000 per month was being paid for a bungalow in the GOR colony.

They said that after the closure of the three circles, the future of 54 employees had been put at stake, and alleged that they were being blackmailed and forced to work to 8pm without any overtime.

The speakers included Chacha Qasim Soomro of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Abdul Wahid of the Jeay Sindh Mahaz-J and Tahir Soomro of the Jeay Sindh Mutahidda Mahaz.