PESHAWAR: A constitutional stand-off emerged with Chief Minister as Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Kareem Kundi refused to sign the budget session summary for today meeting.
The provincial government, led by Chief Minister Gandapur, had announced that the annual budget would be presented today. However, the necessary constitutional formality, approval of the session summary by the Governor, remains incomplete. The Chief Minister had forwarded a summary requesting the summoning of the provincial assembly session, but Governor Kundi has yet to sign it.
Speaking to the media, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi confirmed that he has received the summary. However, he stressed that he is constitutionally allowed up to 14 days to sign the document and is not obligated to do so immediately. “It is not mandatory to sign it today,” he said. “I will only sign it after carefully examining all constitutional and legal aspects.”
Kundi also responded strongly to what he described as political pressure from the Chief Minister. “Ali Amin Gandapur should refrain from making hollow threats,” he said. “I will not be intimidated into signing the summary under duress or coercion.”
He went on to add that he is not afraid of “disruptive elements who attack the state” and said he will not be swayed by those “who have fuelled a culture of corruption.” His remarks appear to be a direct jab at the PTI-led provincial government, suggesting deeper tensions between the Governor House and the provincial leadership.
Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has reiterated that the budget will be presented today as scheduled. However, with the session still lacking formal approval from the Governor, legal experts warn that the situation could trigger a constitutional crisis. Without the Governor’s consent, the budget session may not be legally valid, raising questions about the legitimacy of any financial measures announced.
The clash underscores ongoing political instability in the province, with implications not only for governance but also for the timely passage of critical fiscal decisions affecting millions of citizens. All eyes are now on how the situation will unfold in the coming hours, and whether a compromise or intervention will prevent a full-blown constitutional standoff.
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