ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi left for London on Friday on a private visit.

Interestingly, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Qamar Zaman Kaira and Sherry Rehman also flew by the same plane. Adviser Mifta Ismail accompanied the prime minister.

A source told Dawn that Mr Abbasi had gone to the UK to attend a function at the London School of Economics. He will return on Sunday.

This is the prime minister’s second visit to London in a week. Previously, he went there to meet ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

PPP spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar when contacted said that Ms Rehman and Mr Kaira had travelled to the UK on a purely private visit.

“In fact, a society of Pakistanis at the London School of Economic had invited them to a function,” he said.

The spokesman said it was merely a coincidence and that there was no politics.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2017