Opposition rejects budget

ALI HUSSAIN

ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the federal budget 2012-13, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday blasted the government for its failure to steer the country out of the prevailing energy crisis, eradicate rampant corruption and put the dwindling economy on the track.

Talking to media persons outside the Parliament House, Opposition leader in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, grilled the rulers for their failure to meet most of the targets in the Economic Survey released on Thursday.

"How could Dr. Hafeez Sheikh present the next year's budget following his confession that his economic team has failed to meet key targets in the Economic Survey," Nisar questioned.

He said that the rulers should have resigned instead of presenting another flawed budget.

In the Economic Survey, Nisar said, the government itself has confessed that they failed to control inflation, unemployment, and electricity tariff while public debts registered a 100 percent growth in the last four years. "If you (government) have failed on all fronts, then why you are here to rule the country anymore," he questioned.

He said that corruption had touched new heights during the last four years and people at the helm of affairs were busy in looting the country. "The rulers and their entire families are involved in corruption," he alleged.

Defending his party's lawmakers' uproar and sloganeering during budget speech, Nisar said that that it was necessary to raise slogans to ensure the voice of people was heard. "We will continue to protest in the National Assembly in the same manner from now on," he declared, adding that the party's parliament committee would meet on Monday to chalk out strategy for the remaining budget session.

About Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza's role, Opposition leader said, "she has also to answer for her role, as her ruling is like rocking the boat". Without naming the Prime Minister, Nisar described him as 'real problem' for the nation." Unless and until he is in power, the people will have to face problems," he added.

He vowed that the opposition would  'welcome' the Prime Minister in a similar way in the house, adding the PML-N would continue its protest in such a fashion to convey anger of the masses.  He also announced that now PML-N would extend its protest to the streets against the government.  He also lashed out at President Asif Ali Zardari, saying that the President and his team always left for foreign trip, whenever there was any difficult time for the country.

Meanwhile, commenting on the budget, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidery said that the budget had nothing for the masses. He said that the new budget lacks measures to overcome the energy crisis and improve life standard of the common man.