KP CM Moves Court to Meet Imran Before Budget

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday approached the Islamabad High Court, seeking permission to meet PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan before finalising the province’s upcoming budget. The move comes at a sensitive political moment as the KP government prepares its financial plan for the next fiscal year.

Afridi appeared before the court with KP Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam and told reporters that the provincial budget had already been prepared but still required consultation with the PTI founder. He argued that the mandate given by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa made such consultation necessary before the government moved ahead with final approval.

The chief minister also accused the federal government of denying KP its fair share in national resources and development spending. He claimed that the province had been neglected in federal allocations and suggested that the treatment was linked to its continued political support for Imran Khan and PTI.

Speaking outside the court, Afridi said the national focus should remain on economic recovery and relief for ordinary citizens. He also raised concerns about worsening security conditions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the province was facing rising terrorism while also dealing with what he described as unfair treatment from the centre.

The case is politically important because it connects the provincial budget process with access to Imran Khan, who remains in Adiala jail. PTI leaders have repeatedly complained that meetings with him have been restricted, despite court-designated days for party and family visits.

Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam said the PTI founder had previously directed that he should be consulted before every provincial budget. According to Aslam, no such meeting had taken place during the current budget cycle, even though the provincial government considered the consultation essential for shaping financial priorities.

The controversy also comes as Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments prepare for a difficult budget season. Revenue sharing, development funds, security spending and public welfare allocations are expected to remain central political issues, especially in provinces that argue they are not receiving sufficient support from Islamabad.

For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the outcome of the petition may influence both the final tone of the budget and PTI’s political response during the federal budget session. Afridi has already indicated that the party plans to protest outside Parliament, making the coming days important for both the provincial government and national politics.