Imran slams budget, calls for nationwide protest against govt’s economic policies

RAWALPINDI: In a defiant message from behind prison walls, former prime minister Imran Khan has condemned the forthcoming national budget, warning it will disproportionately burden Pakistan’s salaried class and farmers.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail, has also issued a call to the nation to prepare for a widespread protest movement against the government’s economic policies.

The statements were relayed by his sisters, Aleema Khan and Noreen Khan, who spoke to media representatives on Tuesday after a meeting with their brother. Their visit, however, was not without its own difficulties, as they reported being made to wait and that prominent lawyer Salman Akram Raja was denied access to the former premier. “The founder of PTI has said that once again, two segments of society will be crushed under the weight of the new budget – the salaried class and the farmers,” Aleema Khan conveyed. She added that in stark contrast, the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is preparing to present a tax-free budget.

In a move asserting his continued authority over party matters, Imran reportedly declared, “I am still the party head, and without my consultation, no budget allocation can be finalized.” He has instructed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to allow the party’s economic team to be consulted on the federal budget, a request he claims is being stonewalled by a “scared” government. “Even the IMF’s condition is to consult with the PTI as the opposition,” Aleema Khan quoted her brother as saying, highlighting the international lender’s emphasis on political consensus for economic stability.

The former prime minister’s message also carried a strong political charge, urging his supporters to mobilize. “The founder has called upon the entire nation to prepare for a protest movement,” Aleema Khan announced. “There will be protests across the country.” According to her, Khan believes the rule of law has been “buried” following the 26th Constitutional Amendment and that his imprisonment is a sacrifice for the rights of the people.

The family also shed light on the alleged pressure being exerted on the PTI chairman. Aleema Khan claimed that her brother is being pushed to accept a deal that would see him negotiate for his own freedom in exchange for silence on public issues and legitimizing a government formed with a mere 17 seats.

The conditions of Khan’s confinement were also a point of contention. Noreen Khan emotionally recounted that her brother was not permitted to offer Eid prayers and is regularly denied the right to offer Friday prayers in congregation. “The room where we were allowed to meet him had no fan or air conditioning,” she added, painting a grim picture of his circumstances during the sweltering summer heat.

The PTI has repeatedly raised concerns about the treatment of its founder in jail and the obstacles faced by his legal team and family in meeting him. Tuesday’s events and the strong statements on the budget signal a renewed collision course between the opposition party and the ruling coalition, with the nation’s finances at the heart of the conflict.