• Pakistan PM was to meet Hakeem, Bathiudeen during his stay
• Hakeem says “absurd and cowardly excuse” used to cancel meeting

A scheduled meeting between visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and two Muslim MPs, namely MPs Rauff Hakeem and Rishad Bathiudeen, has been cancelled on “security grounds.” 

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that this was not the only meeting to be cancelled, that a visit to a sports complex too was cancelled.

“The cancellation is not politically motivated,” Rambukwella said.

The meeting had been scheduled on a request by Muslim MPs.

“It was a request from almost all Muslim MPs representing all parties. Sadly, an absurd and cowardly excuse, not second to the excuse given by Parliament for cancelling the PM’s address to the House. Out of respect for the visiting PM, whom we adore, I shall say no more,” Hakeem said on his Twitter handle after the cancellation.

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