Key ally PML-Q skips PM’s lunch

islamabad — The allies of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday used the luncheon organised by Prime Minister Imran Khan to vent their anger on issues they were facing.

The lunch for the government-allied parties was not attended by the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) whose leader Monis Elahi later in a meaningful tweet said his party`s alliance with the ruling Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf was `for the vote and not for lunch`.

Citing sources, The News reported that the allies expressed reservations over the non-provision of development funds and the lack of development projects in their constituencies.

“They also protested against the unresolved issues of the people of their constituencies,” the sources were quoted as saying.

During the luncheon, Dr Fehmida Mirza, Minister for Interprovincial Coordination, said, “The people of Sindh are being treated like stepchildren”. It is inappropriate to ignore elected parliamentarians in the federal government’s plans, she added.

Similarly, the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional informed Imran Khan of the neglect felt by the people of Sindh. “We are your allies, but the government does nothing to prove it,” the Pir Pagara reportedly said.

Sources informed The News that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan ( MQM-P) and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) also spoke about their views regarding the Government of Sindh, noting that the PPP had the control of each department of the province.

The coalition parties also alleged that the bureaucrats in Sindh were running federal projects as per the wishes of the PPP. The MQM-P, while expressing reservations regarding implementation of the Karachi Transformation Plan (KTP), demanded that the promises made to the city be fulfilled, The News said.

“The MQM-P accused the Sindh government of nepotism with regard to the Ehsaas programme and disbursements from the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal,” the sources said. —