Bilawal says PPP, PML-N agree to oppose 'anti-public budget'

LAHORE: After holding a meeting with Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz at Sharifs’ Jati Umra residence at Raiwind on Sunday, Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari announced to initiate resistance movement against ‘anti-public budget’ present by the federal government, ARY News reported.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, while addressing a press conference, claimed that they will not allow the government to pass the ‘anti-public budget’ at any cost.

The latest meeting between prominent leaders of the two major opposition parties was organised to finalise future strategy for anti-government movement after the detention of its top leaders including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari.

Read More: Bilawal meets Maryam at Jati Umra

“I have held discussion over all matters with Maryam Nawaz. We have agreed for not letting the anti-public budget to get approved. PPP will continue its public contact campaign in order to highlight its message before the nation.”

Bilawal said, “Young leadership including Maryam Nawaz will have to play a long inning in future. Maryam Nawaz feels the pain of Punjab citizens and she should continue the struggle for her father Nawaz Sharif.”

Continuing his criticism against the budgetary decisions, the PPP chairman termed it as ‘PIMF’s [Pakistan International Monetary Fund] budget’.

“We will contact coalition partners of the federal government, whereas, I will also meet [Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl chief] Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad.”

He further claimed that they will get nation free from the tsunami of inflation and bring the puppet government for accountability.

“This budget is tantamount to economic suicide of Pakistan. We have responsibility to provide security to the poor segment and labourers,” Bilawal said.

The PPP chairman announced to initiate anti-government movement from Nawabshah’s public gathering on the event of the birthday of slain Benazir Bhutto.

“We [opposition] had provided a chance and now we are giving it again to the government. However, the budget must be public friendly.”

He alleged that IMF is making decisions regarding Pakistan’s finance minister and FBR [Federal Board of Revenue] chairman. He continued that the resolution of national issues cannot be made solely by any political party and it needed joint efforts by all political parties of the country.

The PPP chairman announced to initiate anti-government movement from Nawabshah’s public address on the event of the birthday of slain Benazir Bhutto.

“We are always ready to hold dialogues for the resolution of public issues.”

“This budget is tantamount to economic suicide of Pakistan. We have responsibility to provide security to the poor segment and labourers,” Bilawal said.

Bilawal said, “Young leadership including Maryam Nawaz will have to play a long inning in future. Maryam Nawaz feels the pain of Punjab citizens and she should continue the struggle for her father Nawaz Sharif.”

He clarified that PML-N and PPP have its own ideology, however, the political party is expecting trustworthy coordination with Maryam Nawaz.

“We will try our best for blocking ways of the current anti-public budget.”

Read More: Shehbaz not invited to Bilawal-Maryam meeting at Jati Umra

He also alleged that the top authorities are attacking the independence of the judiciary. Bilawal added that judiciary had come under attack during former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s era which was strongly opposed by the nation.

Earlier in the day, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrived at Jati Umra to meet PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz. The PPP chairman was accompanied by Qamar Zaman Kaira, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Hassan Murtaza and other party leaders during the meeting with Maryam.

PML-N leaders Rana Sanaullah, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Maryam Aurangzeb and others were also in attendance.

Mr Bhutto Zardari met Maryam at her invitation to discuss current political situation following the 2019 budget and recent arrests of former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur and Punjab Assembly opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz.