ISLAMABAD – JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman strongly criticized the federal budget during a fiery speech in the National Assembly, claiming it was prepared by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), not Pakistan’s finance ministry.
He accused the finance minister of merely reading out a budget dictated by the IMF. “The finance minister didn’t draft this budget — the IMF did. He simply presented what was handed to him,” Fazlur Rehman said, calling it an attack on Pakistan’s economic independence.
Fazlur Rehman also condemned the lack of media coverage of opposition voices and highlighted the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces. He reminded the nation that despite growing global isolation, Pakistan remains a strong nuclear power.
Turning to global conflicts, the JUI-F chief slammed the silence over Israeli aggression in Gaza and condemned the West’s biased stance against Iran. He urged Pakistan to show clear and open support for both Iran and Palestine in these difficult times.
Criticizing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), he called it “just a formality” and stated that international pressure on Pakistan to change its laws shows how little value these global institutions actually hold.
In closing, Fazlur Rehman called for unity and justice, urging the government to adopt policies that protect Pakistan’s sovereignty and show solidarity with oppressed Muslims worldwide, especially in Iran and Palestine.