PM plays it cool as quake panics colleagues during party meeting

PM refused leaving office during low intensity earthquake

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday refused to leave his office during a low intensity earthquake felt in the capital.

According to sources, tremors were felt when PM Khan was chairing a meeting with fellow party leaders. His security officers tried shifting him to an open place but he refused.

The 5.3-magnitude earthquake jolted most parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The tremors were also felt in Islamabad.

The epicentre of the quake was 120-kilometre deep near China-Tajikistan border along the Hindu Kush mountains, according to the met office.



Most party leaders stood up from their seats when jolts were felt during the meeting, said sources. However, Prime Minister Khan remained seated and refused to act on the request made by security officials, who had entered the briefing room to shift the premier and others.

The prime minister denied leaving the room, saying that earthquake would also be felt whichever place he would be evacuated to. "A man can't do anything during an earthquake," he said as he continued his meeting.

PM Khan’s composure encouraged other party leaders to get back to their seats and the meeting continued.

The meeting pertained to policy issues on the economy. Ministers and party leaders were being briefed on energy, gas and economic issues.