Looted money legalized through tax amnesty scheme: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

Addressing the Central Executive Committee meeting of PAT here through video link, PAT chief Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that with approval of tax amnesty scheme, economic terrorism has been legalized. He said that the rulers have encouraged a negative practice of legitimizing the looted money. He said that the policies of the Lahore-based rulers are counterproductive wherein Parliament has been rendered ineffective. He also criticized the adoption of bill making PIA a company and said that those who raised slogans of fixing state owned enterprises have put every institution out for sale.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that previously NAB was promoting the culture of loot and plunder through its policy of plea bargain and the now the National Assembly has earned a ‘reputation’ to whiten the black money. He said that economic terrorism has deep connection with armed terrorism, adding that if economic terrorism is not eliminated, there is a fear that the benefits accruing from the Operation Zarb-e-Azb will not be able to stay intact for a very long time. He said that economic terrorists provide logistics to the terrorist organizations for their operation. He said that there was a dire need of bringing back the looted money and meting out exemplary punishment to the culprits publically but the rulers have chosen to give them economic relief package.

Dr Qadri said that it is for this reason that he has held consistently that economic terrorism would never end in the presence of the present government, adding that passage of tax amnesty scheme is its undeniable proof. He asked as to why the rulers do not bring back the looted money to the tune of $200 billion parked in banks of Switzerland? He said that if this money, which belongs to people to Pakistan, comes back, not only will the foreign loans end in one day but the foreign exchange reserves will shoot up to $150 billion. He, however, added in the same breath that as the passage of tax amnesty scheme has proven, the government will not let the ways of loot and plunder be plugged.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the rulers who get foreign loan to the tune of $3 billion annually, provide breathing space to money launderers and tax thieves and prove their stark failure in tackling energy crisis have grounded the national economy. He said that the foundations of economy have been rendered hollow in the name of its revival. He asked the people to protest the passage of amnesty scheme and force the rulers to withdraw the bill. He said that the people should not let their hard earned money go to waste.