Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Senator Barrister Ali Zafar on Thursday said that the Constitution cannot be bulldozed at the behest of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In a recent Senate session chaired by Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan Nasar, he voiced strong objections to the proposed budget, claiming it to be detrimental to the country’s economic growth and influenced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The PTI leader criticized the budget as a “recipe for disaster,” emphasizing that imposing a 40% tax would hinder economic growth and disproportionately affect those already struggling to afford basic necessities like medicine and food.

He stressed that without resolving the ongoing political crisis and restoring the mandate, the budget would fail to serve its intended purpose.

Highlighting the negative impact on the property and construction sectors, Zafar argued that the budget was crafted amidst chaos. He criticized the budget’s formulation amid chaos, asserting that the PTI had managed the economy effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic, asserting that the current approach is flawed.

The Senator also placed partial blame on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), accusing it of contributing to political instability. He alleged that the ECP’s actions, including the withdrawal of PTI’s mandate, have led to the present economic turmoil.

Mr Zafar also pointed out the absence of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa senators from the budget session as a significant concern.

Barrister Ali Zafar reiterated that the Constitution should not be compromised under IMF directives, calling for a more balanced and internally-driven economic strategy.