PPP to resist anti-people budget: Khursheed

Opposition leader says government is not capable of solving the problems of the people

SUKKUR: Khursheed Shah has said the Pakistan Peoples Party will resist any measures directed against the people in the upcoming budget.

The annual budget for fiscal 2016-17 is likely to be announced next week with observers predicting the addition of a plethora of new taxes.

“We will wage a war against the government if the federal budget proves to be anti-people,” said the opposition leader in the National Assembly while talking to the media in Sukkur on Saturday.

He added the government was not capable of solving the problems of the people. It has borrowed $5 trillion in the past three years with no progress in sight, he claimed.

Foreseeing the “century’s biggest alliance” between India, Iran and Afghanistan for the Chabahar port, he said the neighbouring countries were forging ties with India instead of Pakistan because “we do not have a foreign minister”.

Khursheed also said Pakistan had been subjected to worst corruption. “I have already declared my assets. All parliamentarians will have to declare their assets to end corruption,” he added.

On the standoff between the government and the opposition over the terms of reference for the Panama commission, the opposition leader said talks were still going on over the draft of the ToRs.

Afterwards, the government will write a letter to the chief justice for forming a judicial commission to probe the Panama leaks, he added.  On the open-heart surgery of PM Nawaz Sharif, Khursheed said everyone should pray for the quick recovery of the premier.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2016.