Premier steps ups his meetings with the lawmakers as Senate polls near

ISLAMABAD: As the Senate elections are hours away, the electioneering has gained momentum and Prime Minister Imran Khan has suspended most of his daily routine activities to spend the available time in holding meetings with lawmakers.
The Prime Minister has decided to spend time in the parliament where he would hold meetings with disgruntled members of the ruling party and coalition partners in order to address their grievances and garner support.
Members of National Assembly Gul Dad Khan, Gul Zafar Khan, Jawad Hussain, Muhammad Iqbal Afridi and Sajid Khan called on Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Parliament House on Monday and discussed overall political situation.
Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak, Minister for ReCOASligious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri and Muhammad Amir Dogar were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, MNAs Dr Haider Ali, Noor Alim Khan, Uzma Riaz, Zill-e-Huma, Nafeesa Khatak and Shandana Gulzar also called on the Prime Minister at Parliament House. Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak was also present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister listened to their grievances to address their reservations.
The ruling party is making hectic efforts to ensure victory of Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, who is contesting the election from the Islamabad seat against former PM and the Opposition’s joint candidate, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The Prime Minister has directed the PTI lawmakers to ensure their presence in Islamabad for the next three days.
“Due to frequent meetings with lawmakers, the weekly cabinet meeting [on Tuesday] is likely to be postponed,” the sources said, adding that all focus is on the Islamabad seat where a tough contest is expected between PTI candidate Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Pakistan Democratic Movement’s Yousuf Raza Gilani.
“The PM would hold meetings with members of South Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces who have expressed their reservations over the choice of the candidates,” the sources added.
Following the reports of horse-trading, not only the Prime Minister, but the PTI leaders and the federal ministers have also stepped up the pace for arranging dinner and luncheon programmes in honour of the lawmakers. – TLTP