Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday assured lawmakers from interior Sindh belonging to the allied parties that he would visit the province shortly to resolve the problems being faced by the people of Sindh. The meeting took place at a time when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government will require support of allied parties to ensure passage of the Finance Bill 2019-20 from National Assembly amid a possible resistance from the joint opposition.
According to the media office of the PM House, MNAs from Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad, and Mirpur Khas divisions called on Prime Minister Imran Khan and views were exchanged on overall situation in Sindh, ongoing projects being completed with the help of the federal government, and problems of the Sindh people.
It stated that Imran Khan, while speaking to them, said he is aware of Sindh's problems and he will soon visit the province. The prime minister further said those who have looted national resources will be held accountable.
It further stated that the lawmakers from Sindh lauded the budget for economic stability and also appreciated the PM for taking people into confidence over important national issues during his address to the nation yesterday night. They also apprised the prime minister about people's problems being faced in their respective constituencies, the media office of the PM House further stated.
Those, who called on the prime minister include Dr Fehmeeda Mirza, Ghaus Bakhsh Khan Mahar and Saira Bano of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Salahuddin and Sabir Hussain Kaimkhwani of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), and PTI's lawmakers including Muhammad Mian Soomro, Lal Chand, Nuzhat Pathan and Jay Parkash.
Talking to Business Recorder MQM-P's Salahuddin said the focus of the discussion with the prime minister was the problems being faced by the people of Sindh, who, according to him, have completely been neglected by the provincial government of Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
"It was a meeting [with PM] of the lawmakers of Sindh province other than Karachi region. The objective was to bring in notice of the prime minister the problems being faced by the people who have been neglected by the provincial government", he said.
The support of the allied parties is critical for the PTI government, as it may face a major challenge to pass the federal budget for fiscal year 2019-20, given the possibility of getting no support from its two key allies - BNP-M and MQM-P.
In a 342-member National Assembly, the PTI-led ruling coalition's numerical strength is 180 which is 8 seats more than the required simple majority of 172 seats in the lower house of the Parliament.
The PTI has 156 seats, MQM 6, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) 5, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) 5, BNP-Mengal 4, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) 3 seats and Awami Muslim League (AML) has one seat.
In case the MQM and the BNP-M both decide to withdraw their support for the finance bill, PTI would be left with 169 seats - three short of a majority in the lower house. If only BNP leaves the coalition and the government retains support from other coalition partners then it would have 175 seats enabling it to pass the finance bill.
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