Changing Loyalty After Winning Votes in PTI’s Name Is Deception, Says Salman Akram Raja
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has said that changing political allegiance after securing votes in PTI’s name amounts to deception and betrayal of the public mandate.
Speaking to the media on Adiala Road in Rawalpindi, Raja said that the federal government’s request for financial contributions from the provinces had been linked to a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan. He stated that a decision on whether the province would provide the requested funds to the federal government would be made after consultations with the party founder.
He explained that the federal government is seeking contributions from provinces to help cover interest payments on national debt, adding that provinces would have to allocate the funds from their own budgets.
Commenting on reports of meetings with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Raja clarified that discussions with government representatives were limited to issues concerning the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). He alleged that taxes were being imposed in violation of agreements related to the region and said no other matters were discussed.
Addressing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa budget, Raja said some party members believed that failure to pass the provincial budget would increase pressure on the federal government. However, he said he did not understand how withholding the budget would create such a burden.
He acknowledged that without passing the budget, the provincial government would have faced serious operational challenges. While there had been discussions about approving a three-month budget, the party ultimately endorsed a full-year budget to ensure continuity of governance.
Referring to the recent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, Raja criticized the defection of party-backed candidates and said those who joined rival camps would be expelled from PTI. He stressed that winning votes under the PTI banner and then switching loyalties was a form of deception.
The PTI leader also said consultations were ongoing regarding upcoming elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed concern over the political situation there and urged stakeholders to carefully and calmly assess developments in the region.
