The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has assigned key responsibilities ahead of the Senate election to Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar and sidelined Jahangir Khan Tareen, former confidante of Prime Minister Imran Khan who was once considered the most effective leader of the ruling PTI in terms of winning support for his party. 

There are reports that there are reservations within the PTI about Tareen and even the prime minister himself wants Tareen to stay away from the political activity before the Senate election. Against this backdrop, the prime minister has assigned the governor the task of winning support for the PTI candidates for Senate seats. Moreover, the prime minister is said to be satisfied with Sarwar’s performance so far. 

On the other side, the Punjab government too has become active ahead of the Senate election, which is scheduled to take place on March 3. 

Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi called on Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Monday and finalised the strategy with respect to the upcoming Senate election. The three leaders decided to form groups for the purpose and give tasks to the head of each group. 

Punjab Minister for Law Raja Basharat, who was also present on the occasion, informed the three leaders of his contacts with members of the provincial assembly in order to enlist their support for the Senate election.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Usman Buzdar expressed the hope that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would win the election with the support of its allies. He said that members of both PTI and PML would reach out to legislators in order to win their support for the Senate election.

Pervaiz Elahi said that both the government and its allies are on the same page on the Senate election. “Together we will ensure the victory of our candidates,” he said.

MNA Moonis Elahi said on the occasion the PTI-led government had the required numbers to return its candidates to the Senate. “Insha Allah, we will win,” he expressed the hope.