PESHAWAR:Khyber Pakthhunkhwa (KP) government on Saturday clarified allegedmisuse of its helicopters by PTI chief Imran Khan, stating thegovernment-owned helicopters were never used for his personal or privateuse.

In an explanatory statement, the PTI-led KP government said Khanaccompanying the ministers and advisers used these helicopters for theofficial tours.

“These helicopters were used on 39 occasions in last four and half years,”the provincial government officials said in the statement.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had launched an inquiry into thealleged misuse of KP government-owned copters by Khan earlier this week.An inquiry then ordered against Imran Khan and KP Chief Minister PervaizKhattak for misuse of authority and hiring the helicopters at a cheap price.

In the statement, it was said that as the helicopters were never used forprivate use, hence the question of hiring them at lower rates does notarise.

It was further said that the KP helicopters are maintained and operated byAskari Aviation on fixed monthly charges, irrespective of the usage.

“In cases of usage, fuel charges are paid by the provincial government tothe Askari Aviation as billed by the same,” the statement added.

Throwing more light on Khan’s trips, the statement shared details of 39official trips, as it was said, the helicopters were used for around 75flying hours against fuel charges of approximately Rs2.1 million in lastfour and half years.

The PTI chief participated in different important functions ranging fromgroundbreaking/inauguration of Billion Tree Tsunami project, theestablishment of universities and other projects, said in the explanatorystatement.

Moreover, the statement further clarified that Imran Khan did not use theprovincial government-owned helicopters for any political gatherings.