Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan said on Thursday that the protest planned for June 10 is against 'discriminatory treatment' towards the provincial government in the forthcoming federal budget.
Speaking on Geo News programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath', Jan said the decision to hold the protest was announced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi when a sit-in outside Adiala jail was being concluded. He said the provincial leadership had decided to stage a protest outside the National Assembly on June 10, the day the federal budget is scheduled to be presented.
Jan said all party parliamentarians would take part in the demonstration. He said members of the National Assembly and provincial assembly members would jointly attend the protest and record their opposition.
He said the protest was aimed at highlighting the 'unfair treatment' by the federal government in the upcoming budget.
Referring to the National Finance Commission (NFC) issue, Jan said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had previously presented its position before the federal government in a logical and constructive manner.
Jan rejected suggestions that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was facing frustration, saying he remained confident and comfortable in his role. Commenting on PTI information secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, Jan said the party leader should exercise responsibility while issuing public statements.
He said Sheikh Waqas Akram should avoid remarks that could create difficulties within the party and urged him to demonstrate greater responsibility in his position as information secretary. He also asked Sheikh Waqas Akram to take a more active public role, lead the party and fulfil his responsibilities in the National Assembly as a member of parliament.
Jan maintained the chief minister remained in contact with the senior PTI leaders, including Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar and Atif Khan.
