Imran Khan used KP govt helicopter as celebrity, not as PTI chief, claims governor

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Shah Farman has argued Prime Minister Imran Khan used the KP government’s helicopter in the PTI’s last tenure  in his capacity as a ‘celebrity’, and not as a party chairman. 

During an interview to a private television channel, the Governor argued that allegations leveled against Imran Khan for misusing the provincial government’s helicopter during his party’s tenure in KP during 2013-18 were baseless because he was not using the helicopter as a party chairman, but as a celebrity.

He argued that the government would bring him to KP to speak at different events and to inaugurate projects so that his presence could motivate people. Shah Farman said that instead of bringing in the Prime Minister for visits and wasting billions on advertising, the PTI used Imran Khan as their self promoting celebrity. He also said that Imran Khan did not take a single rupee for his service, unlike most celebrities who get paid for such appearances.

Watch: Imran Khan used KP govt helicopter in his capacity as a celebrity, not PTI Chairman: Shah Farman

“I was information minister in the the previous government. Other provinces spent 11-12 billion rupees of taxpayer money on advertising for such visits and inaugurations. Our budget wasn’t even 1 billion. Why? Because for singular events that would cost 3-4 million, we would take Imran Khan as a celebrity” he said.

“Our purpose was to use Imran Khan’s celebrity as a motivating factor. And one more thing, not a single rupee from any of this expenditure went into Imran Khan’s pocket, unlike other celebrities that make money in this way.”

Back in January 2018 when the controversy had been taken up by NAB, Shah Farman as Information Minister KP had said that Khan never traveled in government helicopters alone.

“Imran used the helicopter in the interest of the people and on request of the provincial government, along with the chief minister and other ministers,” Farman said back then, labeling the accusations “propaganda.”