ISLAMABAD: Unfazed by criticism coming from the both the allies and opposition, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday relayed a strong message that "he is only option for the country with no substitute" and vowed to brave the odds come what may.
Speaking at an all important dinner, he arranged for allied parties of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led coalition just a day before the budge is to be presented in in the National Assembly for passage, the prime minister minced no words to remark that he would not be pressurized into accepting the terms of any lobby whether it is from the government or outside no matter how powerful - in one what comes as clear warning shot for allies to mend their ways.
"I could easily complete my five years tenure by compromising with opposition on principles, but for a man like me, who can not be blackmailed, compromise is just not an option," he maintained.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) - a major ally of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) - on Sunday skipped a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Imran Khan a day before crucial voting on the federal budget.
The dinner for which the prime minister paid from his own pocket was attended by the party members and members of the coalition parties, but PML-Q leadership stayed away.
The sources privy to the development told Business Recorder that that PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain not only refused to attend the dinner himself but also declined to send anybody from his party despite request from Speaker National Assembly, Asad Qaiser.
In a telephonic conversation, the NA speaker requested him to send someone from his party if he is busy, but he plainly refused, saying 'he would love to attend a dinner hosted by Asad Qaiser but not the prime minister'.
Before the dinner, the prime minister spoke to the attendees regarding the process of budget approval, according to a statement issued from the PM's office.
He also spoke on the reservations of coalition partners with regard to the budget as Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) delegations separately met the PM before the dinner.
The independent members like Shazin Bugti and others who joined the PTI after winning the elections in 2018 also separately called on the prime minister ahead of the dinner.
Members of the cabinet and the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf also attend the dinner.
The PTI government unveiled its second annual budget on June 12, which had the total outlay of Rs7,294.9 billion. It was 11 percent lower than the size of budget estimates 2019-20.
The dinner which was hosted by the prime minister following Balochistan National Party-Mengal's (BNP-M) left the coalition a week ago, to interact with the allied parties and his own party members.
The sources said that PM Khan took the MNAs in confidence regarding government policies. The purpose of the dinner was to ensure the presence of MNAs of the ruling party and its allies in the National Assembly where PTI's budget 2020-21 is going to be approved today, said the sources.
Rifts have also been reported among other allies and the PTI, as well as within the ruling party itself. The number of National Assembly members from the leading party and coalition partners reduced to 180 after BNP-M parted ways with PTI.
PTI has 156, MQM-P has 7, PML-Q has five while GDA has three members. Two independent members, while one from each, AML and JWP are part of the government alliance as well.
The opposition has 157 members with 84 from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), 55 from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), 15 members from the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), one from Awami National Party, and two independent members, who are also a part of the opposition alliance.
According to parliamentary sources, four members from Akhtar Mengal's party who have parted ways from the government alliance have not yet announced becoming a part of the opposition alliance. They remain on independent benches.
With the inclusion of BNP in the opposition alliance, seats of the opposition party will jump to 161.
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