Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Suhail Afridi has said that he will not sign any draft and no grants will be released to the federal government until the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is allowed meetings.
The remarks came during a session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, where opposition members staged a protest.
Responding to the protest, Chief Minister Afridi asked the opposition to remain patient and directed that water be served to the protesting lawmakers.
Former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur and other disgruntled members also attended the budget session. As the opposition continued its protest, the chief minister again urged them to remain calm.
Mr Afridi said that his party’s demand was that the PTI founder should receive treatment at the best possible hospital and that his meetings should be restored.
“The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have placed their trust in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for a third consecutive term,” he said.
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Earlier, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet approved budget proposals for the fiscal year 2026-27.
The proposed budget has a total outlay of Rs2,170 billion, while the Annual Development Programme has been proposed at more than Rs519 billion.
The budget proposals also include a possible 7 per cent increase in salaries and pensions of government employees.
