ISLAMABAD: The opposition’s censure of the government’s move to issue three ordinances offering tax amnesty was so severe that it adjourned the proceedings of the lower house of parliament to stem further criticism.
The legislation was introduced as presidential ordinances on April 8.
Terming the move illogical, Pakistan People’s Party lawmaker Naveed Qamar questioned the need for passing the ordinances just 15 days before the announcement of the budget.
“What did they fear? If the government thinks it cannot have gotten it (the amnesty scheme) through the house and they fear criticism so much, they have no right to govern,” he said.
Consequences of the amnesty scheme would be faced by the caretaker and the next elected government, he insisted.
He said that such an amnesty was conceptually wrong and amounted to strangulating the next elected government.
