Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has claimed that the rumors about the provincial government not presenting the budget were spread by individuals from within their own political camp. He stressed that had the budget failed to pass in the assembly, it would have led to the downfall of the government, and the blame would have solely fallen on their shoulders. He praised the party’s leadership for showing trust during this difficult phase.
Speaking to journalists in Peshawar, Gandapur announced that he is going to approach the court regarding the reserved seats, asserting that he is not an independent candidate. “I never declared independence in my nomination papers,” he said. “I clearly listed PTI as my party, and now I will use that basis to demand fair representation.” He also criticized legal interpretations that led to PTI members being treated as independents in the assembly.
Regarding the upcoming Senate elections scheduled for July 21, Gandapur said the government will consult on finalizing candidates. He insisted that the provincial assembly is fully intact, no defections are expected, and those hoping to bring a no-confidence motion will soon face political reality. He also noted that after the latest ruling from the constitutional bench, the previous decision of the Supreme Court no longer holds.
Gandapur admitted that two members did not vote in favor of the budget and hinted at outside influence behind their decision. “Everyone knows which side they are really on,” he said. He reiterated that despite the pressure, the budget was passed successfully, and the party’s patron-in-chief was satisfied with the outcome. He acknowledged that if it hadn’t passed, the political damage could have been significant.
On humanitarian issues, Gandapur addressed the Swat river tragedy, where several individuals from Daska, Punjab, lost their lives. Their families have requested government jobs, but due to provincial rules and domicile limitations, this isn’t possible. Instead, the KP government has decided to give Rs 2 million in compensation to each family. He said, “We’ve even guided them on how to invest and use this money to build a sustainable livelihood.” He concluded by criticizing Pakistan’s double standards — seeking foreign citizenships while denying Afghans the same rights — and emphasized the need to restart trade with Afghanistan to strengthen the economy.