KP Opposition Vows Strong Reaction Over Budget Delay

PESHAWAR: Leader of the Opposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Dr Ibadullah Khan on Monday issued a stern warning that failure to present the 2026-27 budget would trigger a “strong reaction” from opposition factions.

At a recent consultative meeting, opposition lawmakers expressed concerns following claims by the provincial government that budget approval hinged on securing a meeting with incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as per a statement from Dr Ibadullah’s office.

During discussions on constitutional and political issues, the opposition leader firmly stated that no unconstitutional measures would be supported under any circumstances.

Discusses constitutional, political matters

Dr Ibadullah emphasized that budget presentation is constitutionally mandated under Article 120, asserting that the government must act immediately. He also clarified that the opposition would reject any proposed interim budget as insufficient to address provincial challenges.

Reiterating constitutional obligations, the leader underscored that political considerations should not override fiscal responsibilities. He criticized attempts to condition budget processes on engagement with Imran Khan, noting that PTI had lost its majority in the assembly.

Amid social media speculation about treasury-bench lawmakers prioritizing a three-month budget during a committee meeting, Dr Ibadullah clarified that no consensus on delaying the annual budget was reached.

PTI’s provincial parliamentary party has formed a legal team to scrutinize budget-related constitutional issues, coinciding with efforts to secure release for Imran Khan. Aleema Khan, Imran’s sister, had previously urged Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to withhold the budget until meeting her brother.

However, a participant in the party meeting reportedly stated that passing the budget was deemed crucial to avoid administrative harm. Previously, on June 13, financial advisor Muzzammil Aslam noted that a summary for June 15 submission was prepared but awaiting Speaker’s office approval, while acknowledging PTI’s right to meet Imran Khan.

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