KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Karachi on Wednesday, a day after the joint opposition submitted a no-confidence motion against him with the National Assembly Secretariat, and held a meeting with the leadership of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), an ally of his government in the Centre.
The premier was received by PTI and MQM-P members upon his arrival at the latter’s temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad. He was accompanied by Planning Minister Asad Umar, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the premier discussed the current political situation with the government ally who in turn assured him of its full support.
The meeting continued only ten minutes. Imran Khan allowed to reopen the zonal office of MQM-P in Hyderablad.
According to official news agency APP during the meeting, the MQM leadership assured full support to the prime minister. The meeting focused on the overall political situation in the country.
After his meeting with MQM-P leaders, the premier arrived at Sindh Governor House, where he held a meeting with the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), another of his government’s ally.
In recent weeks, the opposition has been holding meetings with the government’s allied parties, including the MQM-P and the PML-Q, to get their support for the move against PM Imran, who, for his part, has also held a meeting with PML-Q to offset the opposition’s overtures and his visit to Karachi today to meet the MQM-P leadership is also part of the same efforts.
“The PM is visiting Karachi to meet the federal government’s coalition partners. He will also chair a meeting of the party’s Sindh advisory council. He will also address party leaders and workers,” said party spokesperson MPA Arsalan Taj.
Apart from political engagements, the PM is also likely to distribute Ehsaas cards among the beneficiaries during his visit to the metropolis to mark the completion of three years of the PTI government’s flagship programme.
“The event will be held at Governor House. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Senator Dr Sania Nishtar will brief him on the successful deployment of anti-poverty programmes of Ehsaas in Sindh,” said a statement.