The leadership of two major political parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party, on Monday met Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss political situation and finalise the date for All Parties Conference (APC).
Maulana Fazlur Rehman held back to back meetings with PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, who is also leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, and Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to discuss the current political and economic situation and take joint line of action against the government inside and outside the Parliament.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif termed the federal budget 2019-20 as an "enemy of the people" and vowed to "try best not to let it pass." He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed if PTI comes into power the party will turn Pakistan into a heaven for investors and economic powers, but within past 10 months the PTI government has ruined everything from economy to foreign policy.
The PML-N president said that poor patients are not getting medicines in the government-run hospitals and the government policies have deprived the poor of everything.
He announced that all the opposition parties with consensus will announce the date for the APC and the joint opposition will not allow the government to pass the budget.
After his meeting with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that PPP will oppose the passage of the federal budget in the National Assembly, saying the budget was not made by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government. He added that the current federal budget was made by some external elements. "The only challenge we have right now is the anti-people budget," he further said.
The PPP chairman said that the parliamentary system in the country was made by PPP and JUI-F collectively, adding that both parties were also part of Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD).
"The PPP's motive is clear that Parliament should complete its five-year term," he said and added that JUI-F chief wants to end the PTI-led government.
Bilawal said he wants the assemblies to complete their term in any case. "Whatever decision is made during the APC would be the collective decision of all," the PPP chairman said.
He said that JUI-F and PPP have different views on various issues but they have always remained united on the subject of democracy and civilian supremacy and jointly struggled against Zia-ul-Haq's dictatorship.
On the occasion, the JUI-F chief endorsing Bilawal's stance called the federal budget as anti-poor. The JUI-F chief said the APC would be held at the end of this month, adding that all opposition parties would form a joint strategy. He maintained that the "government will have to go."
He said that more opposition leaders are expected to be arrested in the coming days. He also criticised the National Assembly speaker for not issuing the production orders for PML-N and PPP leaders.
Earlier in the day, PPP has formed a committee to prevent approval of the budget in the National Assembly.
According to party sources, the committee has decided to contact all political parties in the Parliament including Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), and two members of the PTI-led ruling coalition. The committee will hold talks with members of different political parties in the National Assembly, sources said. According to sources, recently held meeting between Bilawal and PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz was also part of the same agenda.
The parliamentary opposition will use all sources at hand to defeat Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the passage of the budget for FY 2019-20, which is presently under debate in the Parliament, sources said.
Comments
Comments are closed.