KP Chief Minister seeks court permission to meet Imran Khan for budget consultation

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking permission to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to discuss the province’s budget for the fiscal year 2026-27.

Speaking to reporters outside the court alongside KP Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam, Afridi said the provincial budget had already been prepared and required final consultation with the PTI founder before being presented.

He stated that the people of KP had elected the PTI based on Imran Khan’s vision and policies, making it essential for the provincial government to seek his guidance on key budgetary decisions.

“We want to consult our leader Imran Khan before presenting the budget and ensure that it reflects his vision and the mandate given by the people,” Afridi said.

The chief minister also voiced concerns regarding Imran Khan’s health, claiming that his eyesight had deteriorated significantly. He criticised restrictions on the former premier’s access to medical treatment, family members, legal counsel and party leaders.

Afridi termed the denial of meetings and limited medical access as unjust, stressing that Imran Khan should be granted all rights available under the law.

KP alleges financial discrimination

Highlighting the province’s financial concerns, Afridi alleged that K-P was being deprived of its rightful share of resources under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and other federal transfers.

He claimed that approximately Rs12 billion had been deducted from provincial funds and noted that K-P had spent more than Rs30 billion on policing and counterterrorism efforts.

The chief minister further alleged that the province was facing political discrimination due to its affiliation with PTI and accused the federal government of prioritising political considerations over economic challenges.

He said inflation, unemployment and poverty continued to increase across the country, while terrorism remained a growing concern in KP.

Budget delay and federal allocations criticised

Afridi announced that PTI would stage a protest outside Parliament during the upcoming federal budget session, expected to begin on June 10.

Meanwhile, Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam criticised delays in the federal budget process and questioned the government's ability to finalise the budget framework.

He said the Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) meeting, originally scheduled for May 21, was delayed until June 1, creating uncertainty regarding fiscal planning.

Aslam claimed that disagreements between the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), along with concerns among coalition partners, were complicating budget preparations.

He further alleged that provinces had been asked to generate an additional Rs430 billion in tax revenues and questioned the practicality of such targets.

According to Aslam, KP had been allocated only Rs2.2 billion for development projects, while Punjab received significantly higher allocations. He argued that development funding for KP was insufficient and reflected broader inequities in federal resource distribution.

He also claimed that coalition partners had expressed reservations about the upcoming budget and suggested that the government was facing considerable difficulties in finalising its fiscal plans.