Pakistan's opposition parties agitating against President Pervez Musharraf's constitutional amendements have decided to block the passage of the federal budget on Saturday.

"The agitation will continue in parliament in the same way," acting president of the Pakistan Muslim League-N Javed Hashmi said.

"The combined opposition is bound by its previous decision not to allow any legislative business in parliament until a settlement is reached on the Legal Framework Order," Pakistan Peoples Party spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

The six-month agitation by the opposition has effectively blocked all legislative work in Pakistan.

The government, meanwhile, continued hectic consultations with the Muttahida Majlis Amal to strike a deal before the budget deadline.
 
The MMA wants Musharraf to quit as the chief of army staff as a compromise and though the president has agreed in principle with the demand, he has not set a deadline for the same.