Centre plotting against K-P govt: CM

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Monday said that the provincial government was a trust bestowed by the PTI's patron-in-chief, Imran Khan, warning that if directed, he would dissolve the provincial assembly without a moment's hesitation.

Addressing the K-P Assembly, Gandapur said that the events of May 9 were merely used as a pretext for launching a full-blown assault on the PTI. "All forces have been bent on eliminating the party and its leader," he alleged, adding that those who abandoned the incarcerated party chairman were nothing short of "cowards and dishonourable".

He went on to accuse the federal government of conspiring to topple the K-P government through the imposition of a financial emergency. However, he warned that the province would not allow such schemes to succeed.

He shared that the parliamentary party and political committee have granted his government approval to pass the provincial budget, adding that it will implement changes in the budget without delay upon Imran's directives.

Gandapur also accused the establishment of orchestrating PTI's ouster from power through a carefully crafted conspiracy. He lamented that constitutional provisions were violated and elections were deliberately delayed to sabotage the party's position.

"Before the February 8 general elections, our chairman was arrested, and the party was deprived of its electoral symbol," the chief minister said. "Despite all these political injustices, the public handed us a clear mandate, but that mandate was stolen in the Centre and in three provinces."

Commenting on the financial crisis his government inherited, Gandapur noted that the provincial treasury contained barely enough funds to pay 15 days of salaries when his government took over.

However, through sound fiscal policies, the province's revenue has now surpassed Rs93 billion, and is projected to reach Rs129 billion in the next fiscal year.

The chief minister further revealed that Rs150 billion in cash reserves remain in the province's debt servicing account, generating Rs60 million in daily income. The throw-forward liability of K-P has been reduced from 13 years to just over five years, he added.

"Those who hold sway over the country left no stone unturned in pushing this province towards insolvency and chaos," Gandapur claimed.

He said that despite their best efforts, they had not been allowed to meet Imran Khan, and alleged that the budget approval process was being obstructed to pave the way for a federal takeover of provincial authority under the guise of a financial emergency.

"We will never let this conspiracy succeed," he said. "The provincial budget is being passed as per the PTI's parliamentary and political committee's decision, but if the chairman wants anything added or removed, it will be done immediately."