KP Chief Minister Rejects Forward Bloc Claims, Says Only Imran Khan Can Remove PTI Government
RAWALPINDI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Suhail Afridi has dismissed reports of a forward bloc within the provincial government as mere propaganda, asserting that only Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan can decide the future of the party’s government in the province.
Speaking to the media in Rawalpindi, Afridi said the rumors were being spread to divert public attention and pave the way for what he described as another people-unfriendly federal budget.
“The PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can only be ended by the PTI founder,” he said. “Until a new message comes from Imran Khan, I will remain the Chief Minister.”
Afridi claimed that Imran Khan had previously expressed confidence in his leadership, stating that no force could remove him from the position as long as Khan supported him.
Discussing the provincial budget, the chief minister said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet had already approved the budget documents. He emphasized that the government had not presented a surplus budget and would instead introduce a people-friendly financial plan.
“Our focus is on health, education, agriculture, youth development, and forests,” Afridi said, adding that several welfare-oriented initiatives would be included in the upcoming budget. He also noted that the federal budget would affect all provinces, including Gilgit-Baltistan.
The chief minister called for Imran Khan to be transferred to Shifa International Hospital for medical treatment and said that his care should take place in the presence of family members and his personal physician.
Afridi alleged that authorities were preventing meetings with the PTI founder and demanded that, if political leaders were not allowed access, at least Khan’s family should be permitted to meet him.
After returning from Adiala Jail, he told reporters that Khan’s family had once again been denied a meeting and blamed the Punjab government and jail administration for the deterioration of Khan’s eye condition.
He announced that a petition would be filed in the Islamabad High Court seeking permission for a meeting with the PTI founder and expressed hope that access would be granted this time.
Afridi further stated that he and the provincial finance minister wanted to meet Imran Khan before presenting the provincial budget in order to obtain his approval.
Warning of possible protests, the chief minister said that if his party was pushed against the wall politically, PTI would stage a sit-in outside the National Assembly on June 10 and resist the passage of the federal budget.
He also clarified that his meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had taken place on the advice of PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. According to Afridi, Imran Khan believes that conflict is not the solution to national issues and that Pakistan should play the role of a mediator.
Responding to allegations of corruption, Afridi said the doors of the Chief Minister’s House were open and challenged critics to present evidence if they had proof of any wrongdoing.
