The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Parliamentary Party, meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi in Islamabad, has resolved to defend the province’s constitutional, financial and political rights through legal and democratic means amid growing concerns over the forthcoming provincial budget and federal-provincial relations.
Meeting Deliberations
The meeting, which continued late into the night at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, reviewed the federal government’s recent actions, the province’s budgetary position, development funding concerns and the prevailing political situation. Participants agreed to pursue a comprehensive political and legal strategy to safeguard the province’s interests and approved the formation of a special legal team to examine constitutional and legal issues relating to the budget-making process.
Legal Team and Strategy
The parliamentary party was informed that if access to former prime minister Imran Khan continues to be restricted, the legal team would review all available constitutional options concerning the budget and recommend an appropriate course of action. Members maintained that any reduction in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s development allocations or budgetary resources would be unacceptable and should not occur without consultation with the party’s founding chairman, Imran Khan.
Chief Minister's Address
Addressing participants, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the 2026-27 fiscal year would focus on accelerating development, strengthening peace and improving public welfare across the province. He stated that the forthcoming provincial budget would prioritise development projects, public welfare and the provision of essential services rather than being structured as a surplus budget.
Federal Government Criticised
The chief minister also called on the federal government to explain the legal grounds for restrictions on meetings with Imran Khan and to clarify the reasons for his continued isolation. The parliamentary party further condemned what it described as the use of force by the Islamabad administration and police to prevent a peaceful protest by elected representatives from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Injuries to Lawmakers
According to the meeting, several members of the Provincial Assembly, including Meena Khan Afridi, Dr Hameed, Tufail Anjum and Dawood Afridi, sustained injuries during the incident, while some reportedly suffered fractures. Expressing solidarity with the injured lawmakers, participants said political pressure and the use of force would not deter elected representatives from pursuing democratic and constitutional objectives.
