Pak politicians threaten to block Budget

Pakistani Opposition parties, led by hardline Islamic groups, threatened on Wednesday to block the passage of next year’s budget through Parliament if an impasse over the military’s role in politics persisted. The pro-military government of PM Zafarullah Khan Jamali is due to present its first Budget to the National Assembly, Parliament’s Lower House, early next month, possibly on June 7.

‘‘We will allow them to present the Budget but will not let it be passed if the situation does not change,’’ said Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, a leader of the Muttahida Majlis-E-Amal (MMA) alliance of six Islamic groups.

Jamali’s coalition government enjoys a majority in the 342-seat Assembly.