Lawmakers say they will not support the budget until Imran Khan is allowed to meet and is released.
Reconciliation efforts between the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and its dissident legislators in the provincial assembly have failed as disgruntled members adopted a hardline stance and decided not to support the upcoming budget without prior consultation with PTI founder Imran Khan.
At a meeting in Peshawar, dissident lawmakers linked their movement to the campaign for Imran’s release. A statement issued by the group said the participants discussed the prevailing political situation and various other issues in detail during the meeting.
The statement once again strongly condemned the denial of a meeting between the founder and his family, calling it a violation of basic human rights, the law and the Constitution. “We strongly condemn this measure,” the statement said.
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The dissidents warned that unless a comprehensive and viable strategy is adopted for the former prime minister’s release, the federal government will not allow him to meet his family, lawyers or party leaders, nor will there be any clear progress in his medical treatment.
“Under these circumstances, all members of the assembly urge and demand the party leaders to come forward and advance the movement for the release of Imran Khan under a comprehensive, organized and viable strategy,” the statement said, adding that the current protest process appears disorganized and reflects a lack of seriousness.
The statement welcomed the position taken by Aleema Bibi and the KP Chief Minister regarding the new fiscal year budget, calling it a positive step that represents the voice of all PTI workers.
“For this reason, today all members of the assembly clearly and unanimously supported the stand that the budget should not be presented in the assembly until the prime minister is allowed to meet leader Imran Khan,” the statement said. “We all remain firm in this position and are ready to do everything possible to achieve it.”
