The surprise adoption of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) budget has sparked a new dispute within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with party leaders arguing that the decision marginalized the party’s imprisoned founder, Imran Khan.
Aleema Khan, Imran Khan’s sister, said that the KP government rushed through the budget without the party founder’s express consent, which she said made Khan “minus one” from his own party. This accusation sparked the issue.
“I think he is minus one,” said Aleema Khan.
After meeting her brother, Aleema Khan spoke candidly to reporters outside Adiala Jail when they asked if Imran Khan had stated that the budget would not be approved without his consent. However, now that it has been approved, has Imran Khan been consulted?
She referred to the dreaded “minus one” formula, which is frequently used to characterize attempts to remove Imran Khan from the PTI’s core leadership, when she stated, “I think it is done.”
She accused the administration of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur of expediting the passage of the budget without seeking input from the party founder.
PTI Secretary General’s inquiry procedure
Salman Akram Raja, the secretary general of the PTI, echoed Aleema’s worries and pointed out that Imran Khan had directed that the budget not be approved without first consulting Aleema.
The only directive given by Khan Sahib was to consult me before to approving the budget. Raja questioned why the KP budget was approved on June 23 when it could have been delayed until June 30. “That consultation didn’t happen,” he stated. He said that there have been inquiries about why the budget was approved on this revised date.
Barrister Gohar: Khan cannot be subtracted.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan responded by categorically refuting Aleema Khan’s claim and rejecting the idea of a “minus one” plan.
The world cannot function without Khan Sahib. Gohar dismissed the idea that the party founder was marginalized and the allegation that the budget was inappropriately approved, saying, “Not even the biggest powers could do it.”
This is the budget, the assembly, and the vote of Khan Sahib. Without his guidance, how can it be passed? Gohar asked, conceding that it was his leader’s responsibility but also disputing that the budget had been approved the day before.
Gandapur responds to KP’s “hypocrisy” and “conspiracy.” Through a video message, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur delivered a scathing reply, accusing internal groups of operating against the founder’s goal.
Gandapur warned that a plot had been afoot to use the budget as an excuse to impose a financial emergency or even governor’s rule in KP. “Some people are advancing the agenda of weakening the PTI founder; these people are spreading the agenda of the founder’s opponents,” he said.
He further claimed that some individuals were plotting and behaving hypocritically in an attempt to usurp the PTI founder’s authority. The chief minister said that “there was a continuous conspiracy to remove us (from power), and many of our own people were part of it.” The budget was approved due to constitutional need rather than treachery.
“There were discussions about treason and minus one at the time of budget approval. After an ongoing campaign, the PTI founder’s statement was released. According to the PTI founder, he did not prevent anyone from presenting the budget.
“The founder did not provide any instructions regarding the budget because there were insufficient meetings. But let’s be clear: we will dissolve this government anytime the PTI founder says so. However, Gandapur said, Imran Khan is opposed to dissolving it.
He accused anonymous people of playing two roles within the party and issuing “fatwas and accusations of treason.”
“Identify people who discuss minus one.” The KP chief minister promised to oppose any such agenda, saying, “That will only occur when we are dead.”
