ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday phoned Balochistan National Party (BNP) President Sardar Akhtar Mengal to discuss the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and the current political situation.

According to details, the PPP chairman and the BNP chief agreed upon a joint budget strategy. The issues of the incumbent government giving statements against the 18th Constitutional Amendment and its steps for the 8th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award were also discussed by the two leaders.

During the call, Bilawal and Mengal expressed concerns over the spread of the coronavirus across the country and also consulted on convening of an All Parties Conference (APC) next week.

On this occasion, Bilawal said that the "PTIMF" budget was "anti-people", and they could not accept it under any circumstances.

He further said that by criticizing the 18th Amendment, Prime Minister Imran

Khan was attacking the Constitution of Pakistan, and he should be held accountable for his 'incompetence'.

In addition, the PPP chairman, while rejecting the extraordinary increase in the prices of petroleum products, said that at a time when the people needed relief, petrol had become expensive, and hostility had been created against the poor.

He said that Imran Khan could not support the sinking economy due to his "incompetence" and by "plundering from the pockets" of the people.

Bilawal said, "Imran Khan first made petrol cheaper, and stored it, and then made it more expensive to the benefit of the mafia." He said that the "selected" prime minister had "no concern for the common man".

Bilawal said that the reduction in petrol prices had not made the necessities of life cheaper but the increase in petrol prices would further increase inflation. He said that every single day of the tenure of the "selected" prime minister was adding to the hardships of the people.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020