Key Takeaways
- Sindh Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the Centre abolish petroleum levy tax.
- The resolution cites additional levies contributing to inflation and public burden.
- MQM-P staged a noisy protest against 'Sindhudesh' during the assembly session.
The Sindh Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the federal government abolish the petroleum levy tax. The resolution, moved by Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) lawmaker Muhammad Farooq, highlights the additional levies imposed on petrol and diesel, which have contributed to rising prices and inflation.
According to the resolution, the actual price of petrol, including customs duty, is Rs238.70 per litre, but the government imposes an additional Rs80 as petroleum levy, Rs5 as climate levy, and Rs25.3 per litre as margin of oil marketing companies. This has placed 95 per cent of the people of Pakistan under the burden of inflation, the resolution states.
In response to the resolution, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar stated that the matter pertains to the federal government and the provincial government cannot abolish the tax. However, the Sindh Assembly voted unanimously to support the resolution, urging the federal government to end the levy tax.
The session was marred by disruptions as opposition lawmakers from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) staged a noisy protest against the so-called 'Sindhudesh' during the Question Hour. The assembly session, chaired by Speaker Syed Awais Shah, was disrupted within minutes when MQM-P's Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader Taha Ahmed rose to address the house on the issue of 'Sindhudesh'.
Opposition members continued their protest, chanting 'Sindhu Desh na manzoor, Speaker gardi na manzoor' as the house echoed with loud protests and sloganeering. The speaker intervened repeatedly, asking the protesting lawmakers to take their seats and let the Question Hour continue.
The MQM-P lawmakers converged in front of the speaker’s rostrum and chanted 'Sindhu Desh na manzoor, Speaker gardi na manzoor'. The ruckus began after Leader of the Opposition Ali Khurshidi of the MQM-P accused treasury members of running video clips of assembly proceedings on their social media accounts. He alleged that even ministers were involved in the practice.
The speaker responded by asking for a list of the accused. During Question Hour, Taha Ahmed kept speaking while the MQM-P members did not ask supplementary questions, further disrupting the proceedings.
The opposition leader condemned the disruptions, stating that the entire house and Sindh were watching the proceedings. The session continued with the resolution being adopted, but the disruptions highlighted the ongoing political tensions and public dissatisfaction with the current economic situation.
