ISLAMABAD, March 22: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto has summoned party Senator Farhatullah Khan Babar to Dubai, amidst fresh wave of speculations about possible contacts between the government and the PPP.

Sources told Dawn on Monday that the PPP senator left for Karachi in the evening from where he embarked a Dubai- bound PIA flight PK-213 at 10.30pm. The sources claimed that Mr Babar was called in Islamabad from Peshawar by some "officials" on Monday morning. They said during the meeting between the senator and those officials he remained in contact with Ms Bhutto.

Soon after the meeting, the PPP chairperson asked him to rush to Dubai without any delay. Mr Babar did not find any direct flight for Dubai from Islamabad and therefore, took a connecting flight from Karachi.

When contacted on his mobile phone, Mr Babar said that he was in Karachi as he was leaving for Dubai. However, the PPP senator refused to give any reason for his emergency visit.