Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced that if efforts are made to marginalize him again, parliamentarians from across the country will converge in Islamabad on June 10 to stage a sit-in in front of the National Assembly and prevent the approval of the federal budget.
Speaking to the media before departing from Adyala Road, Afridi emphasized that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government represents the party of the founding leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and the people of the province voted for the founder. Therefore, public demand is that the provincial budget should be prepared in accordance with his guidance and priorities.
Afridi stated that he intends to meet with the PTI founder to seek his approval regarding the budget. He also announced that he will file a petition in the Islamabad High Court tomorrow and expressed hope that permission for the meeting will be granted this time. He alleged that even today, the founder’s family members were denied the opportunity to meet him.
The Chief Minister asserted that the PTI founder has committed no crime and is being unjustly detained. He claimed that due to negligence by the Punjab government and jail authorities, the founder is facing eye-related health issues, raising public concern over the ongoing restrictions on meetings.
Afridi emphasized that the mandate to change the Chief Minister rests solely with the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He noted that his recent meeting with Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, arranged at the request of Barrister Goher, included discussions on regional matters. Afridi stressed that Afghanistan is a brotherly Islamic country and Pakistan’s relations with it should not be jeopardized to please anyone.
He added that the PTI founder consistently holds the position that war is not a solution to problems and that Pakistan should play a mediatory role in the region. Afridi concluded by stating that the upcoming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa budget will prioritize social welfare, education, and healthcare.
