Aleema Khan Slams KP Budget Passage Without Imran Khan’s Consent
“I Think Minus Imran Khan Has Happened," she said.
Aleema Khan, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, reacted strongly to the passage of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 without the consultation or approval of Imran Khan.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala jail in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, Aleema was asked whether ‘Imran Khan is minus’ — a reference to the claim that the PTI founder has lost relevance in national politics — had happened. “I think, minus Imran Khan has happened,” she responded.
She acknowledged the claims that Imran Khan has lost political relevance as the KP Assembly passed the budget without his nod.
Aleema criticised the KP MPAs who passed the budget without Imran Khan’s consent, saying those who could not resist pressure should “go home” because the party needs bold and courageous members.
She said: “We don’t know why [the KP govt] was in a rush to pass the budget.”
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur-led government did not even wait for two days, she added.
“We don’t know what was hidden from the PTI founder in the budget. I am surprised that the KP lawmakers did not even discuss it,” she added.
She relayed Imran Khan’s stance that the budget should not have been approved without his input. She mentioned that the PTI founder had instructed the party to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the passage of the budget without his consent.
However, according to Barrister Saif, a provincial adviser who met Imran Khan in jail, after being briefed on the situation, Imran Khan gave conditional approval to the KP budget. Imran Khan expressed that the budget should not have been passed without his input, but agreed to its approval after understanding the constitutional and political challenges. He also called for amendments to be made after further discussions with KP leadership.
Aleema Khan’s comments reflect a sense of political sidelining of Imran Khan in KP’s budget process, despite his eventual conditional approval after being briefed. She criticised the KP MPAs for bypassing him and called for solidarity and courage within the PTI ranks.
