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Pakistan's NW Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government refuses to sign Rs. 175 billion transfer deal, citing demands for Imran Khan's rights

By The South Asia Times

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provincial government has reportedly refused to sign an agreement to transfer Rs. 175 billion to the federal government, linking the decision to the restoration of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan's legal and lawful rights, Khan's sister Aleema Khan claimed.

In a post on X, Aleema Khan detailed a meeting between Imran Khan's family and KP ministers at the Islamabad High Court, where the province's stance was outlined.

The KP government will not approve the transfer unless the province receives its full share of approximately Rs. 300 billion for the merged districts (formerly FATA) for the current fiscal year. These funds, she stated, are essential for the economic development and stability of the merged areas.

Beyond the financial dispute, the KP government has made the signing conditional on the immediate restoration of a list of rights for Imran Khan. This includes his immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment by qualified specialists.

Khan's health has been a matter of significant concern, with reports indicating he retains only 15% vision in his right eye after being diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion.

Further demands include an immediate end to his eight-month isolation and solitary confinement.

The list of demands calls for the restoration of weekly meetings with six family members, six legal team members, and six political associates, along with weekly phone calls with his sons and access to books, newspapers, and other reading material.

The provincial government's refusal comes amid a backdrop of tense relations with the central government.

The province's leadership is now leveraging the financial agreement to press for what it terms Imran Khan's "basic legal and human rights." The KP government has consistently pushed for Khan's hospital transfer and has previously protested the denial of family meetings at Adiala jail.