KOHAT, July 27: The public gathering arranged for Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani after the foundation stone-laying ceremony of new Khushalgarh Bridge on Thursday (today) at the farmhouse of Provincial Minister for Housing Amjad Khan Afridi in Kohat has been cancelled due to political rivalry, Dawn has learnt reliably.

Mr Amjad had invited the prime minister to his farmhouse at a lunch after inaugurating work on the new bridge. However, MNA Dilawar Shah strongly objected to the programme and took the plea that as the function was of federal government the prime minister should stay at his hurja for a lunch.

The foundation stone-laying ceremony of the new bridge would start at 9am on Thursday (today), according to the invitation cards issued on behalf of the housing minister. The lunch programme of the prime minister at the farmhouse mentioned in press cards had been removed with a black marker after the official cancellation of the programme.

Confusion prevailed here about the PM’s programme as both the political leaders issued invitations about the lunch to people at their respective places. Even they verbally told the people that they were hopeful that the gathering would be held in Kohat.

Both the MNA and the housing minister belonged to the ANP.

Some local leaders said that security and pressing engagements of the prime minister could be a reason for cancellation of the public meeting in Kohat.—Correspondent