RAWALPINDI (National Times) Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on Wednesday the nation had rejected the budget presented by the government.

“People will not wait for anyone to take to the street after being fed up with inflation and a lack of relief in the budget,” he said.

Speaking to media outside the Adiala Jail, the former federal minister lashed out at the government for not taking care of the poor while preparing the budget.

“This is the fight of the destitute as they are hardly making ends meet under extreme poverty and hunger. This government lacks understanding of the challenges being faced by the people,” he said.

Directing his anger towards PM Shehbaz’s recent acknowledgement of IMF input in the budget, Rashid said the government was leading the country to Kenya-like situation.

Expressing displeasure over prosecutor’s attitude, the AML chief said no one was indicted today, adding that 650 people were made to brave oppressive heat.

“I had a bitter exchange of words with the prosecutor today as he wanted this case to be transferred to another judge but his appeal was turned down forthwith,” he added.

The forrmer minister said Imran Khan would not come out of jail anytime soon, saying those expecting the PTI leader’s release were mistaken.

In addition, he said, he was acquitted on Tuesday by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). He claimed that everyone who was jailed after May 9 was asked to give statement of section 164.

Earlier, special Anti-Terrorism Court judge Malik Ijaz Asif conducted the hearing of the May 9 cases.

Sheikh Rashid, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq (Rashid’s nephew), Zartaj Gul, and Rashid Hafeez appeared before the ATC.

PTI founder Imran Khan’s legal team represented the former premier. Attendance of the accused was marked in a makeshift court inside Adiala Jail.

Later, the hearing was adjourned till July 15 without proceedings.