ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: The People’s Party Parliamentarians leadership has decided to seek explanation from its MNA Syed Naveed Qamar for attending a reception hosted by Pakistan High Commissioner Dr Maleeha Lodhi at her London residence.

The legislator says that he went there in connection with a visa-related problem.

A PPP spokesman said in a statement the need to seek explanation from Mr Qamar had arisen after media reports that he had attended an official function in London without the party’s permission.

Talking to Dawn, PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said even PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto was unaware of Mr Qamar’s action until the press reported it.

Mr Babar said Mr Qamar had violated a decision of the ARD, bounding ARD members not to meet government functionaries at public functions.

He denied the media reports that the presence of Mr Qamar at the function was a political message and part of confidence-building measures with the government.

When contacted, Mr Qamar said that he had gone to Dr Lodhi’s residence, but not to attend the reception.

He said he had talked to Dr Lodhi in the morning to seek her help in getting UK visa for his daughter and she asked him to see her in the evening when she had invited some guests for dinner. Mr Qamar said that when he reached Dr Lodhi’s residence, he realised that he had committed a mistake. “I left the venue in 10 minutes,” he added.

A source in the PPP said Mr Qamar’s action could damage the party’s image among the people due to the ongoing propaganda campaign of the government that it was in contact with the PPP to strike a deal.