Govt on its last legs: Opposition parties reject 2020-21 budget.

ISLAMABAD -- Opposition parties on Sunday rejected the federal government's budget for the new fiscal year, lambasting the ruling PTI for being unable to provide people with relief during the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement - made during a press conference in Islamabad - comes ahead of Monday's crucial voting in the National Assembly to pass the federal budget.

Speaking alongside PML-N's Khawaja Asif and Jamaat-i-Islami's (JI) Mian Aslam, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the "united opposition" has rejected the government's budget and has issued a joint statement in this regard.

The PPP, PML-N, JI, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Awami National Party, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, National Party, Qaumi Watan Party and some of our independent friends in the National Assembly have rejected this budget, he said.

"This budget has united the people against the government. We had thought that the budget would help protect the people's economic rights. Instead of doing that, it has added to their burden."

The PPP chairman added that the government's unexpected decision to increase the prices of all petroleum products by up to nearly Rs26, was an "excellent example of this government's hypocrisy".

Responding to a question, Bilawal said that the opposition had played a "responsible role" so far. "When the pandemic hit, we said we will keep partisan issues aside and fight it together.

"Three to four months have passed and this is still our stance, but the prime minister has not taken this seriously. Before the pandemic, he was a threat to our democracy and economy. Now, he is a threat to people's lives and their economic prosperity."

The PPP chairman went on to say that the PTI lacked the leadership needed to combat the pandemic. "You need to have an 'above politics' view [...] the PTI doesn't have such leadership, and citizens are suffering as a result."

Bilawal also said that Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif was in contact with all parties despite having the coronavirus. He said that...