Pak’s KP CM Gandapur warns of dissolving provincial assembly

Peshawar, Jun 20 (PTI) Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Friday warned that he would dissolve the provincial assembly if the federal government tried to destabilise the PTI-led coalition government in the province.

In a video message, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader said that he holds the constitutional authority to dissolve the provincial assembly at any time.

The chief minister suspended the implementation of the recently approved provincial budget and directed lawmakers not to submit any cut motion on the budget during Friday’s assembly session. He said a new strategy will be announced on Monday.

“If we don’t pass the budget, the federal government could take control of the province under the pretext of a financial emergency,” Gandapur said, alleging that efforts are underway to topple the PTI-led provincial government through conspiracies.

The chief minister criticised the federal authorities for what he termed “unjust treatment” following the events of May 9, 2023, and claimed that the public mandate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was stolen.

Jailed former premier Imran Khan is booked in several cases in Lahore in connection with the May 9, 2023, violence, including for allegedly inciting his supporters to attack government and military buildings, which erupted after his arrest by paramilitary Rangers from the Islamabad High Court premises.

The 72-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been behind bars since August 2023 after he was booked in multiple cases.

“Our leader was unjustly jailed, and the way we were treated after May 9, followed by the theft of our mandate, is unacceptable. However, the people of this province stood firm to protect their vote,” Gandapur said.

He accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor of violating constitutional responsibilities by not convening the budget session.

“It is the constitutional duty of the governor to call the budget session, but he failed to do so,” he said.

“Moreover, our party’s founding chairman has a legal and moral right to be consulted on the budget, but he has been denied access,” Gandapur said. PTI AYZ GSP GSP