Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has labeled Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent visit to China a failure.
Addressing the National Assembly on Wednesday, Rehman claimed that both the prime minister and the army's efforts to secure positive outcomes from the visit were unsuccessful, citing concerns raised by Chinese officials about instability and lack of security in Pakistan.
Rehman criticized the government for its handling of the annual budget, which he argued has failed to leave any sector or income group unaffected by its measures. "Every government claims the budget is people-friendly and beneficial for the country's development, but in reality, it fails to protect any sector, salary, class or income group," he said.
He questioned the rationale behind the masses paying taxes to a government that, according to him, lacked public trust.
"Why should people pay taxes when they know their earnings will be used to repay loans and interest to the World Bank and IMF? People will not pay taxes to fill the coffers of international institutions," Rehman asserted.
Highlighting the precarious state of the country’s economy, Rehman stated, "Despite the government's claims, the country stands on the brink of bankruptcy. For 75 years, successive governments have led us to this point."
Rehman also expressed reservations about any new military operations, recalling the violence faced by the region since 2010. He criticized former chief of army staff Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa's assurances that border fencing would prevent terrorist incursions.
"General Bajwa proudly claimed that no terrorist could infiltrate after the border was fenced, yet it seems that in the next few months, a government of the Islamic Emirate will be established in Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, Bannu and other areas," he said.
Rehman’s remarks underscore his deep dissatisfaction with the current government's policies and actions, particularly regarding economic management and national security.
