Islamabad, June 10, 2024 — Former Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser, addressing a press conference on Monday, alleged the exclusion of 91 development projects from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) from the federal budget. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader claimed these policies were contributing to the resurgence of terrorism in the region.

Flanked by KP Assembly members and other party leaders, Mr. Qaiser detailed that the excluded projects spanned crucial sectors such as health, education, and energy. He highlighted unmet promises of additional funding from the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, intended to support KP following the merger of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

“We were promised an additional 3% of the NFC award for KP, amounting to Rs100 billion annually, but this amount has not been released,” Mr. Qaiser stated. He suggested that KP was being deprived of funds due to its electorate’s support for PTI.

At the press conference, PTI leader Atif Khan underscored the severe electricity crisis facing KP amid a heatwave, criticizing the federal government’s inaction against electricity theft and expressing concern over potential further increases in electricity prices following the budget announcement.

Shahram Tarakai, another PTI leader, lamented the rising terrorism in KP, attributing it to the federal government’s policies.

Oppression and Abuse of Power

Mr. Qaiser also condemned the federal government’s “blatant abuse of power and relentless oppression” of PTI workers, leaders, and National Assembly members. He criticized the denial of entry to the anti-terrorism court in Sargodha for PTI-backed opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan and four other parliament members, calling it a trampling of political rights.

He questioned whether Punjab had been turned into “a police state or a martial law regime,” highlighting the restriction on PTI workers’ political activities, including their inability to convene a workers’ convention.

Mr. Qaiser urged the incumbent Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, to uphold the dignity of the house and protect lawmakers’ privileges.

The press conference highlighted growing tensions between the federal government and KP, with PTI leaders warning of dire consequences for national security and governance if current policies continue.

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