This Regime Has Slaughtered The Middle Class: Asad Umar’s Scathing Criticism
Mian Nadeem | Published October 07, 2026 | 05:51 PM
Tax collection from the real estate sector fell by 38 percent, while income tax paid by salaried people rose by another 10 percent and has increased more than threefold since Shehbaz Sharif became prime minister, according to former federal minister Asad Umar.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Oct, 2026) Former Federal Minister Asad Umar strongly criticized the country’s economic situation and tax policies, stating that “this regime has slaughtered the middle class.”
In a statement on social media platform X, Asad Umar shared data revealing a 10 percent increase in income tax paid by salaried individuals during the first quarter of the current fiscal year. He claimed that overall, the tax burden on this segment has more than tripled since Shehbaz Sharif's ascendancy to the prime ministery.
In contrast, he noted a 38 percent decrease in tax collection from the real estate sector, which already paid relatively low taxes. Asad Umar characterized these policies as cruel and blamed the current regime for “slaughtering” the middle class.
He further emphasized that not every issue requires a drastic solution. Referring to previous sacrifices, he stated, "The blood of many innocent Pakhtuns has already been shed, and many soldiers have laid down their lives." He urged the interior minister to engage in dialogue with elders instead of issuing threats within 72 hours.
"For God's sake, do not play politics with the lives of the people of this country," he pleaded, reinforcing the importance of no compromise on terrorism. He recalled a jirga of elders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa held in November 2025, attended by representatives from various political parties and signed a declaration with unanimous consent.
Asad Umar suggested that this declaration should serve as a framework for countering terrorism. He advocated for the interior minister to engage with these elders instead of threatening actions within 72 hours and emphasized the need to assess government performance against the jirga's commitments.