This Regime Has Slaughtered the Middle Class, Says Asad Umar
Sajid Ali
Published October 07, 2026 | 01:21 PM
Real estate sector tax collection fell 38 percent, income tax paid by salaried individuals rose another 10 percent, and the tax burden has more than tripled since Shehbaz Sharif became prime minister, according to former federal finance minister Asad Umar.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Oct, 2026) Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf secretary-general and former Federal finance minister Asad Umar strongly criticized the country’s economic situation and tax policies, targeting the current government.
According to details, Asad Umar shared statistics in a statement on social media platform X, saying that income tax paid by salaried individuals had increased by another 10 percent during the first quarter of the current fiscal year. Overall, he stated, the tax burden on this segment had increased more than threefold since Shehbaz Sharif became prime minister.
Referring to the real estate sector, he mentioned that tax collection from the sector—which already paid low taxes—had declined by 38 percent during the first quarter. Asad Umar strongly commented that through its “cruel system and policies,” the current regime had slaughtered the middle class.
He further stated that not every problem was a nail and not every solution was a hammer. He expressed concern over the loss of innocent Pashtun lives and sacrifices made by soldiers, suggesting that instead of threatening people with a 72-hour ultimatum, the interior minister should engage in dialogue with elders.
“For God’s sake, do not politicize the lives of the people of this country,” he pleaded, adding that there could be no compromise on terrorism. He reminded readers of a jirga of Pashtun elders held in November 2025, following which a declaration was issued with complete consensus.
Recalling the event, Asad Umar noted that besides the provincial government, the Muslim League, Pakistan Peoples Party , Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami, Awami National Party and all parties in the province had attended the jirga, and their representatives had signed the declaration. He emphasized that the declaration should serve as a foundation for efforts to end terrorism. Instead of issuing threats, he suggested that the interior minister should sit with all these elders and review whether governments had fulfilled their responsibilities under the declaration. Negligence should be addressed, he concluded.