Govt's budget a pack of lies: Fazl

Says public with PDM's anti-government stance; Swat and Karachi gatherings to be historic

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman rained on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government yet again on Sunday, terming its budget a "pack of lies". 

The Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief stated that PDM was adamant on its stance, saying the anti-government campaign was ongoing with the public at its side.

The PDM chief's remarks came during a press conference held in Peshawar this afternoon.

"The parliament used to represent an institution of supremacy, but it was desecrated during the budget session," he stated.

Speaking of the ruckus that marred the budget proceedings, he said shoes were hurled at the opposition inside the House.

Questioning the lawmakers' behaviour during the budget session, the JUI-F said, "How could one talk of the parliament's supremacy."

Fazl termed the federal budget a "pack of lies", saying the government resorted to chaos [to hide those lies]." Parliament, he maintained, cannot continue to be run with such bitterness.

Anti-govt drive

Speaking of its first rally of the fresh anti-government drirve, scheduled to be held on July in Swat, he said the alliance will organise a "mammoth and historical gathering" in Swat as well as in Karachi on July 29.

"A historical gathering will be organised in Swat on July 4 [and] we will prove how the government was imposed on the people."

Read PDM had ousted govt if PPP, ANP stayed: Iqbal

He went on to add that, "These kind of people cannot be the representatives of the Pashtun."

"A massive gathering will [also] be held in Karachi on July 29, where people will be organised again."

The PDM chief said, "The government doesn't have any grounds at all to stay in power," adding that, "We will strive to bring Pakistan back on the track of the Constitution."

"A passenger's dislodging doesn't stop the journey," Fazl said in a veiled reference to the departure of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) from the alliance. The PDM, he added, is holding its ground firmly.

Electoral reforms

Fazl further stated that the alliance supports the proposal of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N's) President Shehbaz Sharif to organise an all parties conference (APC) to discuss the electoral reforms.

To a question regarding Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid's invitation for a dialogue, Fazl said, "Who shall we talk to? Dialogues are held with eligible and capable people." "How can we talk to someone with such an attitude and tone," he said.

"We can talk to those who brought the government into power, on our terms," he remarked.

The PDM chief further said, "We can invite the Election Commission to participate in the APC regarding the electoral reforms."

On granting expatriates the right to vote, he opined, "Overseas Pakistanis are our brothers [but] some countries don't have a vote registration mechanism in place."

Fazl feared that granting expatriates the right to vote may result in rigging. "With this government, if the embassies function as polling booths, how can the votes be secure."