ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa budget passed by the KP Assembly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has directed the provincial government to petition the Supreme Court since “this budget is not final”.
Speaking to family members at Adiala Jail, the former prime minister said: “The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa placed their trust in me through their votes. That is why I had instructed that (Chief Minister) Ali Amin, Muzzammil Aslam, Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Taimur Jhagra must brief me on the budget before its passage. Prior to approving the budget, Ali Amin and the KP government should have approached the Supreme Court and stated unequivocally that the party leading the province is headed by Imran Khan, and it is from him that guidance on budgetary matters must be sought, without which even the IMF will not accept the budget”.
Directing the KP government to move the Supreme Court, he said: “This budget is not final. My designated consultative team must meet with me, and the budget should only be passed after incorporating the amendments that I specify”.
He added: “While other provincial governments are not presenting surplus budgets, offering a surplus from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s funds serves only to benefit the illegitimate federal government. I will not allow the people of KP to be harmed under any
circumstances.”
