PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday said Prime Minister Imran Khan was attacking the 1973 Constitution by criticising the 18th Amendment, reported 24News HD TV channel.

The statement came as he phoned BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal and discussed different issues with a special focus on the attempts to target the 18th Amendment and the government measures with respect to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

The two political leaders also exchanged their views on the All Parties Conference (APC) to be held next week, which would be convened by Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.

As the two sides expressed their concerns over the coronavirus transmission across the country, Bilawal said the pandemic was affecting spreading because of the government’s incompetence.

The budget presented by the PTI government is anti-people which could not be accepted any cost, he remarked.

Last week, Bilawal had warned that no one would be able to control the situation if people came out on the streets over issues like the 18th Amendment, NFC Award, inflation and missing persons.

The PPP chairman criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan for his recent statements about the 18th Amendment and the NFC Award, saying his assertions were actually against the 1973 Constitution. There won’t be any compromise on the 1973 Constitution, he made it clear.

Those who believe in the 1973 Constitution, NFC Award and devaluation of powers to provinces should leave the ruling alliance, Bilawal remarked.

On Friday, Bilawal had called Shehbaz after which they decided to reject the budget completely and hold the APC next week.

The opposition is very active since the BNP-M decided to leave the ruling coalition at the Centre. The Baloch nationalist party has three National Assembly and one Senate seats.

The BNP-M last week left the ruling coalition over the PTI government’s failure to implement the six-point agreement inked at the time the federal government was formed.

And the situation is worsening for the PTI government, as another ally JWP has now given a one-week ultimatum to implement the agreement.

It was earlier reported that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman was eyeing the Centre and had asked the party leaders to remain on opposition benches in Balochistan.

This advice was given as Fazl chaired a meeting of his party’s provincial lawmakers and leaders on Sunday, where the participants talked about toppling the Balochistan government. But the seasoned politician had totally different views as he was determined bring a change in the federal setup, especially at a time when the Finance Bill is yet to be approved.

Mengal also attended an APC organised by the JUI-F in Islamabad, after which Fazl said the government statements about the 18th Amendment were very alarming and they would not accept any reduction in the NFC (National Finance Award) Award share of provinces.

He also demanded an immediate end to the FC powers of arrests, saying that the unconstitutional and arbitrary detentions were unacceptable.

As the provinces are already critical of the federal government led by the PTI over the slashing their respective NFC Award shares, Fazl said Balochistan had been ignored in the CPEC. “We consider PTI and BAP as twin brothers,” remarked Fazl in his typical sarcastic manner.

Speaking on the occasion, Mengal said they were not interested in what the ruling alliance was doing as his party had left the government. “We will not support the Finance Bill,” he made it clear.

Not only the BNP-M but also the entire Balochistan join the PTI if the government solved the problems, said Mengal, in an apparent jibe at Prime Minister Imran for his ineffectiveness. “We brought the issue of Balochistan to the Parliament from Twitter,” he added.