LAHORE: A conference of 200 plus religious scholars from across the country declared here on Sunday non-payment of tax as against Shariah and demanded the government forcibly deduct the tax from those who could afford.

Held under the umbrella of Tanzeem Ittehad-i-Ummat, the Accountability Conference said that each citizen must pay tax in proportion to one’s income as non-payment of tax is violation of the Shariah law.

It urged the government to enlist at least the billionaires of the country and deduct 60 per cent tax from their incomes.

The moot opposed the government policy of getting interest-based loans and termed it also against Islam.

The participants pledged to launch an “Eliminate Corruption, Save Homeland” campaign as well as introducing a signature drive to support an across-the-board accountability in the country.

They decided to deliver Friday sermons against corruption and the corrupt mafia and observing the coming Friday as the Accountability Day.

The scholars were also unanimous on forming a board for monitoring the accountability process as well as holding accountability conferences down to the district level for creating awareness among the masses about ill-effects of corruption.

Distancing themselves from the calls for “fill prisons” and violence (in Mumtaz Qadri case) by some outfits of the Barelvi school of thought, they suggested talks as the best way to resolve all issues, particularly at a time when operation Zarb-i-Azb was being executed against terrorists.

They also advocated for equal rights for religious minorities saying as citizens all enjoyed equal status.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2015