What could be termed a major development in the country’s political landscape, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) House has contacted ‘estranged’ Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT) group to listen to the latter’s grievances, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

Quoting Raja Riaz, group’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, the TV channel reported that members of the JKT group had been invited to meet with Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.

Raja Riaz told 24News TV channel that assurance had been given to the group by the CM House that the government was ready to remove their reservations over the cases made against their leader Jahangir Khan Tareen.

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He further said that group Parliamentary Leader in the Punjab Assembly (PA) Saeed Akbar Khan Nawani, in his speech at the assembly session tomorrow (on Friday), would not only brief the House on the reservations the JKT group had over the ‘unfair accountability’ of Tareen, but would also inform the MPAs about tactics adopted by the Punjab government to ‘victimize’ members of the group.

CM Buzdar spurs efforts to woo MPAs 

Punjab CM Usman Buzdar has spurred his efforts to woo provincial parliamentarians in the face of looming threat of Jahangir Tareen’s like-minded group that might enact a split in the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf.

In an effort to bring around the members of the provincial assembly, Chief Minister Buzdar has opened the CM office’s doors for the MPs. As many as 50 Punjab assembly members have met CM Buzdar.

Reportedly, the CM also held meetings with the members of Tareen group and like-minded group. The chief minister seems to be involved in political activism keeping in view the possible blow by the Tareen group to the ruling party.

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The chief minister has reserved his time exclusively for the MPAs from 10am to 11am. The provincial lawmakers could meet the CM without any appointment during this time. 

During his meetings with the MPs, CM Buzdar made it clear that there was no question of revenge politics and added that he had always taken along all the members of the assembly. He said that all government decisions were taken after the consultations with the MPs. 

He further said that Punjab government was providing development packages to all the cities. 

Estranged leader of PTI Jahangir Tareen on Tuesday wedged a cleavage in the ruling PTI, when he announced parliamentary leaders of “his group” — both in the National and the Punjab assemblies.

MNA from Faisalabad Raja Riaz was named the group’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, while Saeed Akbar Niwani in the Punjab assembly.

The announcement came at a dinner hosted by Mr Tareen at his residence where, according to Raja Riaz, four more MNAs and as many MPAs had joined the group. This, Raja Riaz claimed, had brought the total strength of the group close to 40.

 

Reporter Awais Kiyani