Budget unveiled amid standoff
A political standoff erupted on Friday over the convening of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session to present the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2025-26.
The dispute began when the Governor refused to summon the assembly session scheduled for June 13, prompting the government to take independent action.
In response to the governor's refusal, the ruling party submitted a requisition signed by 40 members of the Assembly to the acting Secretary of the Assembly, Syed Muhammad Mair.
Acting swiftly, the Speaker summoned the assembly session within two hours, and the budget along with the Finance Bill for the next fiscal year was tabled at 3pm.
The provincial government had sent a formal summary to the Governor a day earlier, requesting him to convene the Assembly session on June 13. Initially, the Governor House even issued details confirming receipt of the summary. However, on Friday, the Governor House issued a revised statement, indicating a standoff between Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
The new statement declared that the Governor had decided not to return the summary but also would not sign it immediately. He emphasized that, under the Constitution, he has 14 days to act on such a summary and is not obligated to sign it on the same day.
Governor Kundi stated, "I have received the summary to convene the Assembly session and I am reviewing it. I am not bound to sign it today. I will do so only after fulfilling all constitutional and legal requirements. No one can force me to sign it immediately — neither the Chief Minister nor anyone else through threats or pressure."
The Governor further remarked, "I will not be intimidated by groups that attack the state or those who fuel corruption in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The Chief Minister should refrain from his hollow threats."
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