PTI directs members to vote against G-B Budget 2024-25

GILGIT: The Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) has issued directives to all its members in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly to vote against the upcoming Budget 2024-25.

The decision was communicated through a letter from PTI Parliamentary Leader in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, Raja Muhammad Zakriya Khan, which underscored the instructions from PTI Central General Secretary Umar Ayub, following the guidance of the party’s founder, Imran Khan.

The letter emphasized the importance of adhering to the party’s policy and principles. “As per the directives, you are hereby instructed not to vote in favor of the Budget 2024-25 in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly. This decision has been taken in line with our party’s policy and principles. Your adherence to this directive is crucial in maintaining the integrity and unity of our party,” stated the letter from Raja Zakriya Khan.

In a parallel communication, PTI Central General Secretary Umar Ayub reiterated the party’s stance, urging all members to oppose the budget. “As per founder Chairman Imran Khan’s instructions, we should not support the budget proposed by the Government and it is essential that we stand united in our stance,” Ayub’s letter read.

Ayub further instructed all PTI members to follow the strategic guidance of Parliamentary Leader Raja Zakriya Khan Maqpoon during the budget debate and voting process in the assembly. “It is also crucial that we maintain discipline in our ranks and any deviation from the party line may harm our collective interests,” the letter added, emphasizing the need for unity and discipline within the party.

The PTI’s official social media channels also echoed these directives, highlighting the importance of unity and adherence to party decisions. A message from PTI Gilgit-Baltistan on social media stated: “PTI parliamentary leader, following the orders of the Central General Secretary, has instructed all members of the GB Assembly who won on PTI tickets or joined PTI to vote against the Gilgit-Baltistan Budget 2024.”
The message noted that most members have pledged to comply with party decisions.

“Failure to vote against the budget as per party directives would be a serious violation of their oath and would amount to the worst facilitation in approving an anti-people budget,” the message added.

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Interestingly, the party has also sent letters to its members who formed a forward bloc following the disqualification of PTI’s Khalid Khurshid Khan as chief minister and member of the assembly by the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court in July last year. After the disqualification, the PTI forward bloc established a government with the support of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), electing Haji Gulbar Khan as the Chief Minister. The letter was also sent to Haji Gulbar Khan.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Government on Monday unveiled a budget of Rs 1.402 trillion for the fiscal year 2024-25. Debate on the budget is underway.

PTI member of the G-B Assembly Javed Manwa claimed that they have the support of eight party members. “Let’s see what happens,” he said in a brief chat with HUM News English.

According to the G-B Assembly website, the 33-member house comprises 21 members from the PTI, four from the PPP, three from the PML-N, and one each from the Muttahida Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, JUI-F and Islam Tehreek Pakistan, along with one independent candidate. One seat remains vacant following the disqualification of Khalid Khurshid.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan invalidated the by-election results for GB Assembly constituency 13, Astore-1 in January this year due to corrupt practices and violations of the Election Act, 2017, ordering a fresh election in the constituency. PTI candidate Justice (retd) Muhammad Khurshid Khan, father of Khalid Khurshid, had won the by-election, which was challenged by PML-N’s Farman Ali.