Bilawal warns govt of countrywide movement if PTI doesn't renegotiate deal with IMF

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari warned the government of a "countrywide movement" if it does not renegotiate its deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

The PPP chairman was speaking at the inauguration event of the People's Urban Forest programme in Lyari on Tuesday, where he spoke out against the government's deal with the international money lender. 

He labelled it the "PTIMF" budget and said that the government had not negotiated the appropriate budget for the people.

"We call upon the government to renegotiate its deal with the IMF," he said. "If that does not happen, we will launch a countrywide movement against this budget which is an enemy of the people," he added. 

The PPP chairman said that neither did the people of Pakistan nor the PPP accept the budget by the PTI government. He blamed the PTI, saying that their government was robbing people of their economic rights. 

"The federal government is robbing people of their economic rights," he said. "Last year they gave us less than Rs100 billion in the NFC Award. This year, they have provided us Rs140 billion. With such an amount, how can we give employment to our people?" he asked. 

He said that the PPP had always empowered the poor of the country and made policies for their welfare. Bilawal said that the PPP had always provided employment to the people of Pakistan. 

"If arrangements could not be made to employ people in Pakistan then we ensured that their passports were made free so they could seek employment abroad," he said. 

Bilawal described the "Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP)" as a revolutionary concept and said that it was the first safety net initiative of Pakistan. 

He blamed the government for "robbing" the people of the BISP and the money that was given to them as a result of the programme. The PPP chairman called upon the people to become his source of strength so that the party is able to form its government again. 

Refrain from conspiracies: CM Murad warns federal government

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah spoke before the PPP chairman did at the event to criticise the federal government, warning them against committing conspiracies. 

Read more: Federal government to transfer Kaleem Imam from Sindh Police to Narcotics Division: report

"At least think of your own people," he said, advising the government to work for the poor and stop conspiring. 

He said that the federal government blames the Sindh government for everything. "I hope they don't blame us for the spread of the coronavirus," he said. 

Murad said that people had started to jump from the PTI's "sinking ship". He said that if the Sindh chief minister said something, it was viewed with doubt. However, if a government official says something, that is accepted. 

"You won't get the injection that makes them see hoors," he said, mocking Prime Minister Imran Khan. "For you, relief will only be in the grave."