Staff Reporter
Islamabad
The Opposition parties on Sunday announced they “completely reject” the federal government’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and to demand that Prime Minister Imran Khan step down.
“The opposition leaders have unanimously declined and rejected the budget and will take all measures possible to protest against it,” said PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto.
“We were expecting that the government would provide some sort of relief at a time of crisis, but to the contrary, the government has increased the burden on the public,” said the PPP chairman.
The announcement, made during a press conference in Islamabad, comes ahead of Monday’s crucial voting in the National Assembly to pass the federal budget. Speaking alongside PML-N’s Khawaja Asif and Jamaat-i-Islami’s Mian Aslam, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the “united opposition” has rejected the government’s budget and has issued a joint statement in this regard.
The PPP, PML-N, JI, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Awami National Party, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, National Party, Qaumi Watan Party and some of our independent friends in the National Assembly have rejected this budget, he said. “This budget has united the people against the government. We had thought that the budget would help protect the people’s economic rights. Instead of doing that, it has added to their burden.”
The PPP chairman added that the government’s unexpected decision to increase the prices of all petroleum products by up to nearly Rs26, was an “excellent example of this government’s hypocrisy”. Responding to a question, Bilawal said that the opposition had played a “responsible role” so far. “When the pandemic hit, we said we will keep partisan issues aside and fight it together.
“Three to four months have passed and this is still our stance, but the prime minister has not taken this seriously. Before the pandemic, he was a threat to our democracy and economy. Now, he is a threat to people’s lives and their economic prosperity.”
Bilawal also said that Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif was in contact with all parties despite having the coronavirus. He said that an All Parties Conference will be announced as soon as Shehbaz recovers.The government has imposed a tax on petrol, before the passing of the budget, which is even more than the rate of petrol itself, Bilawal said.
“There has been an absolute failure on the government’s part to secure our lives and protect our health,” he added.
“PML-N, PPP, every party, has the leadership to fight the pandemic,” he said, adding: “PTI lacks the leadership to fight it.” He said the current crisis can be dealt with “by listening to international organisations’ recommendations”.
Representing the PML-N, Khawaja Asif reiterated that instead of providing people some relief during this difficult time, the government had added to people’s difficulties.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan has become a national liability. As long as he is the premier, we are headed towards disaster. The sooner we get rid of him, the more chances we have of salvaging the situation,” he said, adding that they will formulate a joint strategy in this regard.
He stated that the manner in which the government’s coalition partners were abandoning ship was a sign that its end was near.
He added that that a government that used state institutions to target the opposition was “cowardly”, adding that it was now time for them to be held accountable.
PML-N stalwart Khawaja Asif said Imran Khan’s rule “is leading us to destruction”. “Imran Khan has become a national burden,” Asif said, adding: “The way the government’s allies are breaking the coalition with the PTI-led governnment is an indication that government is on it’s last legs.”
“It is only with his removal that Pakistan can be saved.” He said the opposition will formulate a joint strategy in this regard. “Government institutions are being used to target the opposition,” said Asif. “It is now their turn to be held accountable.”
The PML-N leader said that the opposition will “take every constitutional path possible to change the government”. “The country needs a new mandate now,” Asif said. “The new mandate is the only way out of the current problems.”
Meanwhile, JUI-F member Akram Khan Durrani, said that the incumbent government’s “attitude towards the opposition” is plain for everyone to see.
He said that “cries of bewilderment” can be heard everywhere over the government’s policies.
Condemning the treatment meted out to Jang Geo Media Group chief editor Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, he said: “No case has been registered against Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman who has been arrested for several months now.”
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Mian Aslam said, “The budget is a blur of words.” “Imran Khan government has presented the worst budget.” “The government was already headed for failure before the budget; it has completely failed now,” Aslam said.
