ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday demanded appointment of new opposition leader in the National Assembly before selection of new chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB). PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry announced the party’s demand.
“A new Opposition leader should be appointed and he should be from the PTI,” said Fawad Chaudhary while addressing a press conference.
The demand came after Aftab Sultan stepped down as the head of the anti-graft watchdog, the National Accountability Bureau, as he reportedly refused to “toe the line.” The PTI welcomed the development, terming it a major step towards the collapse of the current “fascist system”.
Fawad said that the new opposition leader should be appointed first and then the NAB chairman with his consultation. He stated that no one would accept Leader of the Opposition Raja Riaz’s consultation, making it clear that if the NAB’s chairman was appointed with consultation of the PTI dissident, it would be unacceptable as the Lahore High Court (LHC) already suspended the PTI lawmakers’ resignations.
Fawad said they wanted to empower the judicial system of the country. The PTI leader stated that “Jail Bharo Tehreek” will start from Wednesday (today) and it will be based on peaceful protests.
According to the reports, around 200 PTI leaders will surrender on the first day of the movement while youths and supporters of the party will also join the protest to be part of Jail Bharo Tehreek.
Earlier, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry lashed out at the federal government for imposing massive tax on air tickets.
Taking to Twitter, the former information minister said the treatment being meted out to the overseas Pakistanis by the governments was “shameful”. He said Rs75,000 had been imposed in wake of tax on air tickets for Sharjah.
Similarly, the tax on tickets for the US flights would increase by Rs250,000 and Rs150,000 on tickets for Europe, he lamented, adding that overseas were fed up with the PDM-led government.He stated that nation stands with Imran Khan and PTI, “Jail Bharo Tehreek” will start from Wednesday, everyone including the party leadership is ready to expedite the movement.
His reaction comes a day after the National Assembly passed the Finance “(Supplementary) Bill, 2023,” proposing additional taxes and duties of Rs170 billion to meet the understanding reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the Extended Fund Facility. According to the bill, General Sales Tax (GST) will be increased from 17 per cent to 18pc. It has been decided to enhance the GST on luxury items from 17pc to 25pc.
