Karachi was the only city of the country where the August 1 strike had been partial because of the traders' difference. Now it has to be seen whether those traders who were on strike will support the second closure. "Traders should show their unity by keeping their businesses closed on Wednesday to observe a complete strike against the withholding tax," Chairman All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, Atiq Mir told reporters at a news conference held at Karachi Press Club on Tuesday.
He said that the strike was a 'mandate' to the continuing protest movement of traders against the withholding tax and announced to step down as a leader of the tradesmen agitation if the drive did not succeed. "If the strike did not succeed with its goals against the banking transaction tax I will quit," he said. Criticising the prime minister, he said that the country was facing anarchy like situation from traders' continuing agitation against the disputed taxation and the head of the government stood indifferent completely. He ,however, offered the government with a help to end the tax dispute. "For the country's interest and for the tax culture growth, we are ready to support the government but abolishment of the banking transaction tax is our primary demand," he said, adding that the traders would stop all their protests with suspension of the tax.
"Traders' talks with Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar have been fruitful but there is still a deadlock on banking transaction tax," he said, adding that the finance minister should relinquish his stubbornness, which has put the national economy at risk.
He also warned the traders that the strike failure would help bring out all the 'corrupt' FBR officials to clamp down on their businesses. "The banking transaction tax is a test case for the government by the interest-based international monetary institutions," he said, adding that the government had contrived an issue of filer and non-filer and stole million of rupees from their bank account overnight. Atiq Mir urged the finance minister to suspend the banking transaction tax for three months to hold negotiation with protesting traders and sort out difference with them and end them amicably through a reform drive. He said the tax reforms should take place with a halt to the tax.
He said that the traders would take a protest rally from Nomaish Chowrangi to Karachi Press Club at 3 pm which he claimed, leaders of over 500 markets would participate in to resent against the tax. He also invited the public to take part in the rally.