Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Monday accused the federal government of “conspiring” against his government, as he vowed that he would not allow such efforts to succeed.
Addressing a session of the KP Assembly that sought to approve the budget, he alleged the centre was deliberately trying to delay the KP budget in an attempt to trigger a financial crisis in the province. He pointed to Governor Faisal Kurim Kundi’s delay in summoning the budget session as “unprecedented,” questioning why the PPP leader had failed to perform his duty.
Last week, Gandapur had threatened to dissolve his government if he and his finance team were not permitted to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Patron-in-Chief Imran Khan to consult him on the provincial budget. Earlier, Khan had issued instructions barring the party from voting on the budget until he had approved it.
Maintaining that consulting with the incarcerated PTI leader on the KP budget was his party’s democratic right, Gandapur lamented that on meeting was arranged despite repeated requests over 21 days. “If you can’t arrange our meeting, then admit that this isn’t your government,” he said. “Either acknowledge that someone else is running this government or stop calling yourself democratic,” he added.
The chief minister noted that a government could be ousted under two conditions: financial instability or a deteriorating law and order situation. Maintaining that the PTI-led KP government had overcome financial hurdles, he alleged the center was trying to declare a “financial emergency” in the province by “stopping us” from passing the budget. “We will never let them succeed in their conspiracies,” he said.
Reiterating allegations of state institutions targeting the PTI after the events of May 9, 2023, he alleged the party’s mandate was “stolen” at the center and in the other three provinces. He referred to a since-retracted statement by the Rawalpindi commissioner, who had claimed to alter the results of the Feb. 8, 2024 general elections at the behest of “higher powers.” He similarly referred to a letter penned by judges alleging pressure, questioning why no action was taken on their complaints.
Emphasizing that only Imran Khan had the authority to order the dissolution of the KP Assembly, he vowed that he would not hesitate a moment if the PTI founder directed him to wrap up the government.
Calling for a vote on the budget, he said the PTI retained the right to amend it as per Khan’s directives due to its majority in the province.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja appeared to criticize the passage of the budget, declaring it a “complete surprise” to him. “On June 22, the political committee of the PTI endorsed the decision of the KPK parliamentary party to pass the budget, if no meeting with Khan is allowed, by the latest date possible to prevent financial chaos,” he said, implying that the budget was passed in haste before the last possible date required by law.