IMF agreement is against the Constitution and the spirit of democracy: Rabbani

‘No representative of PTI, CCI or the federal cabinet was taken into confidence’

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Mian Raza Rabbani expressing concern over International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement with the federal government said, "It aims at slashing the share of the provinces and imposing the Egyptian model here in Pakistan".  Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday, Rabbani, who has also served as Senate chairperson from 2015 to 2018, demanded that the government summon a 'joint session' of parliament and take all parliamentary parties into confidence on this issue.

IMF deal at comparatively low mark-up: Hafeez Shaikh

Rabbani, who was flanked by PPP leader Rashid Rabbani and Waqar Mehdi, was of the view that under this agreement, the federal government has also assured to revisit the existing National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and curtail the shares of the provinces. "This agreement is against the Constitution and the spirit of democracy," he said.

Criticising the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) government, he said, "Council of Common Interest (CCI) and even the federal cabinet has not been taken into confidence on this issue".

He was of the view that there was no need to present the upcoming budget before the House, because IMF had already dictated it in the agreement. "IMF has already released its statement disclosing the conditions and upcoming budgetary proposal and tax targets," he said adding that the IMF serving employee has been made governor of State Bank of Pakistan, which is matter of grave concern.

Drawing the attention toward the IMF agreement he said, "No elected representative even from the PTI was present at the time of agreement". He also criticised the federal government's decision to divert provincial governments' funds towards Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), security of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the on-going war against terrorism. He said, "It is against the law and the Constitution".

Pakistan ponders action after rupee’s free fall

Responding to a question, Rabbani went on to say that the incumbent PTI government was attaching all importance to pursuing foreign agenda. "In the present circumstances, these foreign financial institutions are defending and furthering the American agenda in third world countries," he remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2019.