PM to launch mass contact drive from Feb 18

Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to launch a mass contact campaign from February 18 to mobilise the workers and voters of the PTI ahead of the local government elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (second phase) and Punjab.

The drive is also meant to inform the people about the ruling party’s “mega initiatives” and priorities.

Initially, four major public meetings have been planned across the country, sources said.

PM Imran will address the first public gathering on February 18 in Mandi Bahauddin. In South Punjab, public meetings will be held in Multan and Rahim Yar Khan.

The prime minister will address a public rally in Tharparkar, Sindh and also in various cities of K-P.

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A day earlier, while addressing a news conference in Islamabad, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting announced that the decision to hold public gatherings was taken at PTI’s Central Executive Committee that was chaired by PM Imran himself.

Habib said the premier would himself lead the mass contact campaign at the desire of PTI parliamentarians who wanted him to directly inform the masses about the PTI’s mega initiatives and priorities.

He said the provincial presidents had been asked to arrange party conventions as it was their responsibility to mobilise workers at grassroots level.

According to the plan, he said, PM Imran would address large public gatherings across the country.

Meanwhile, the second phase of LG elections in K-P, scheduled for March 27, had been postponed by the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

The high court directed the electoral body to hold the elections after Ramazan, keeping in view the harsh weather forecast for next month.

The ECP on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court seeking an early hearing of the petition against the PHC ruling.

The local bodies’ polls in Punjab are expected to be held in May.