Pakistan, June 19 -- ISLAMABAD - JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman strongly criticized the federal budget during a fiery speech in the National Assembly, claiming it was prepared by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), not Pakistan's finance ministry.

He accused the finance minister of merely reading out a budget dictated by the IMF. "The finance minister didn't draft this budget - the IMF did. He simply presented what was handed to him," Fazlur Rehman said, calling it an attack on Pakistan's economic independence.

Fazlur Rehman also condemned the lack of media coverage of opposition voices and highlighted the sacrifices of Pakistan's armed forces. He reminded the nation that despite growing global isolation, Pakistan remains a strong...