The founder of Pakistan Tehreek-E-insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, gave conditional approval of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa budget for the next fiscal year, following a briefing detailed by the provincial adviser lawyer SAIF.
Addressing journalists after meeting Imran at Adiala prison, he said that the former Prime Minister had been fully informed of the province’s financial situation, constitutional challenges and what was described as a strategy by the opposition to block the passage of the budget.
He said that the founder of the party, after hearing all the details, had expressed his agreement with the approval of the budget. “I transmitted all that the chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Muzzammil Aslam wanted to communicate,” said Saif, adding: “After listening to the briefing, Imran Khan accepted the budget approval.”
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SAIF confirmed that political and constitutional issues were discussed in detail during his meeting with Khan, and the head of the PTI was informed of the legal risks which could have appeared if the budget had not been adopted within the constitutionally mandated period.
“The delays could have disrupted the disbursement of wages and interrupt the functions of the essential government,” he said.
He also revealed that the founder of the PTI had been informed of an alleged meeting at the house of the governor where the opposition parties would have developed a plan to block the passage of the budget. “If the budget had not been approved, it could have triggered a governance crisis in the province,” he said.
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According to SAIF, the KP government organized in -depth consultations with legal experts and party members before carrying out the budget. The final decision to approve it was taken after parliamentary party meetings and internal deliberations, he added.
He said that the budget changes remained a possibility after a meeting between Imran Khan, Gandapur and Muzzammil Aslam. “Imran Khan will publish instructions after this meeting, and amendments will be brought accordingly,” he said.
Earlier, Imran would have expressed reserves on the adoption of the budget.
According to his sister Aleema Khan, who also met him in Adiala prison, Imran said: “The budget should not have been adopted without my contribution. Now, with the authorization of the Supreme Court, the changes that I deem necessary must be made. This is my final decision. “
Aleema quoted it as saying that the excess provided for in the budget was poorly advised, because it benefited the federal government and contradicts the financial reality of the province.
She added that he had regretted not having been consulted earlier, in particular by CM Gandapur, and called a team of five members to meet him and discuss the required changes. She added that Imran was dissatisfied with the restrictions to whom he could meet him in prison.
Commenting on the governance of the country, Imran said that there was no hybrid system in place but rather a de facto martial law. “He said that he would only speak to those who really hold power, citing a recent call by Donald Trump to the head of the army Gen Asim is providing as proof,” said Aleema, quoting his brother.
She also said that Imran had criticized the government’s international position, saying that foreign leaders did not engage with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif or President Asif Ali Zardari.
On international affairs, the former Prime Minister praised the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, but urged Pakistan to concentrate inward. “Iran is a strong nation-we must learn from them,” he said, stressing the need to respect the rule of law and defend constitutional rights.
