LAHORE: According to Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, their sole demand for the alleviation of the public concerning the budget 2024–25 is what motivated them to stage a sit-in on July 12 in Islamabad.
Speaking to the media in Lahore, Naeem declared, “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif must give relief to the nation before it’s too late and there’s no way out [for him].”
The JI chief’s comments follow President Asif Ali Zardari’s ratification of the tax-heavy Finance Bill 2024 last week after it passed the National Assembly.
The national budget, which was unveiled on July 12, sets a lofty tax revenue target of Rs13 trillion for the year beginning July 1, up roughly 40% from the current year.
A 48% increase in direct taxes and a 35% increase in indirect taxes over updated expectations for the current year make up the increase in the tax objective. Petroleum levies and other non-tax revenue are expected to rise by an astounding 64%.
Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and previous leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismail, have sharply criticized the budget.
“We don’t want any anarchy, vandalism,” the JI chief remarked, describing the nature of their protest.
He went on to say that they are not affiliated with any political party and that the public will assist them in putting on the sit-in.
