Imran Khan agrees to approve K-P budget: Barrister Saif

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has given conditional approval to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s budget for the next fiscal year, following a detailed briefing by provincial adviser Barrister Saif. 

Speaking to reporters after meeting Imran at Adiala Jail, he said the former prime minister had been fully briefed on the province’s financial situation, constitutional challenges, and what was described as a strategy by the opposition to block the budget’s passage.

He said the party founder, after hearing all details, expressed his agreement with the budget's approval. “I conveyed everything that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Muzzammil Aslam wished to communicate,” Saif said, adding, “After listening to the briefing, Imran Khan agreed to the approval of the budget.”

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Saif confirmed that political and constitutional matters were discussed in detail during his meeting with Khan, and the PTI chief was briefed on legal risks that could have arisen had the budget not been passed within the constitutionally mandated timeframe.

“Delays could have disrupted salary disbursement and halted essential government functions,” he said.

He also revealed that the PTI founder was told about an alleged meeting at the Governor House where opposition parties had reportedly devised a plan to block the budget’s passage. “Had the budget not been approved, it could have triggered a governance crisis in the province,” he said.

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According to Saif, the K-P government held extensive consultations with legal experts and party members before proceeding with the budget. The final decision to approve it was made after parliamentary party meetings and internal deliberations, he added.

He said that changes to the budget remained a possibility after a planned meeting between Imran Khan, Gandapur, and Muzzammil Aslam. “Imran Khan will issue directions after that meeting, and amendments will be made accordingly,” he said.

Earlier, Imran had reportedly expressed reservations over the passage of the budget.

According to his sister Aleema Khan, who also met him at Adiala Jail, Imran said: “The budget should not have been passed without my input. Now, with the Supreme Court’s permission, the changes I deem necessary will have to be made. This is my final decision.”

Aleema quoted him as saying that the surplus projected in the budget was ill-advised, as it benefited the federal government and contradicted the province’s financial reality.

She added that he regretted not being consulted earlier, particularly by CM Gandapur, and called for a five-member team to meet him and discuss the required amendments. She further said Imran was dissatisfied with the restrictions on who could meet him in jail.

Commenting on the country’s governance, Imran said there was no hybrid system in place but rather a de facto martial law. “He said he would only talk to those who actually hold power, citing a recent call from Donald Trump to Army Chief Gen Asim Munir as proof,” Aleema said, quoting her brother.

She also said Imran criticised the government’s international standing, claiming foreign leaders did not engage with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif or President Asif Ali Zardari.

On international affairs, the former prime minister welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and Israel but urged Pakistan to focus inward. “Iran is a strong nation — we must learn from them,” he said, stressing the need to uphold the rule of law and defend constitutional rights.