Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that if the curren
t government presents the budget for 2018-19 before elections it will be tantamount to pre-poll rigging.
“It is unfair for the curren
t government to present the budget for the upcoming government,” he said while speaking to journalists outside the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the federal capital on Wednesday.
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-
Nawaz government is expected to announce the budget for next fiscal year on April 27 in a special
session of National Assembly. The PML-N government will complete its tenure on May 31, after which the caretaker setup will take over to e
nsure transparency of general elections.
“If the curren
t government presents the budget then it will be a political budget,” he said, explaining that the budget’s sole purpose would be to gain a political advantage. “It is the responsibility of the new government to present the budget of 2018-2019,” the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader added.
When asked about the PTI members who voted against the party i
n Senate elections, Khattak shared that a list comprising names of PTI members “who sold their conscience” has been completed.
The PTI chief would make the announcement in a press conference in this regard,” he said.
To a question, he said, “We support the rights of the Pakhtun and have endeavoured towards it, adding that the party will not tolerate a single word against the armed forces or state’s institutions.
Published in Daily Times, April 19th 2018.
