PTI lawmakers try rebuilding contact with party members

Session was held upon directives of the premier

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Parliamentary members was held at the Parliament House on Wednesday.

The meeting was called on the directives of the prime minister.  Finance Minister Asad Umar headed the session, which was attended by Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar and MNA Amir Dogar among others.

According to sources, the meeting was convened after PTI members complained to Umar about the lack of contact between the federal ministers and PTI’s members of the National Assembly since coming into power. It has also been learnt that Umar was asked to consider ground realities when it comes to policies so that the hard work he puts in does not go to waste.

The meeting discussed and decided the government’s strategy on the economic situation in the country while it also discussed the recently formed opposition’s alliance. The finance minister briefed the participants on the mini-budget, while also sharing the government’s vision about the same.



Disgruntled members from South Punjab and Faisalabad complained about the federal ministers saying that if the same attitude persists then the party will face difficulties in South Punjab during the next elections.

PTI’s chief whip Amir Dogar too was apprehensive about the federal ministers’ attitudes. Speaking to the media after the meeting, he took a hit at the ministers', saying their lack of participation today was a clear indicator of their seriousness or the lack thereof. He further said that it is unfortunate that members of the party have to ask for time to meet the federal ministers.

Dogar also told the media that the meeting was only convened as PTI’s National Assembly members demanded a briefing on the country’s economy. He also briefly touched upon the trading of words between Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Pakistan Muslim League’s Moonis Elahi. Dogar said the prime minister will certainly look in to the matter. In addition, Dogar also hinted at certain factions in Sindh vying for change in the province.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Asad Umar said that since the past five months, no one has ever asked for a party level meeting and now that the issue has come to the government’s attention, all grievances will be addressed forthwith.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also assured the members of the meeting of constant and continuous contact between the members of the assembly and the federal ministers while Defense Minister Pervez Khattak said that all ministers will brief the assembly’s PTI members once a week.