The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) reached out to the Jahangir Tareen group, a disgruntled section within the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and accepted the latter’s declared position of ousting Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in a significant move.
“The PML-N and the Jahangir Tareen group have agreed that CM Buzdar should be ousted because the province’s political and administrative affairs have taken a heavy blow during the PTI’s leadership in Punjab,” according to a joint statement released here on Monday.
On the orders of their leader Jahangir Khan Tareen, who is recovering from a medical problem in the United Kingdom, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and PML-N vice president Hamza Shehbaz paid a visit to the Tareen group members while they were having their scheduled meeting. Next week, Mr Tareen is due to return home.
Moonis Elahi, the PML-Q leader and federal Minister for Water Resources, called Jahangir Tareen’s son Ali Tareen to inquire about his father’s health and to wish him a speedy recovery.
Following the opposition’s filing of a no-trust resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan, the ruling PTI’s allies — the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) — met at PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s residence in Islamabad. They discussed formulating a coordinated approach in response to the National Assembly’s resolution of no confidence.
Hamza Shehbaz and members of his team were welcomed by Tareen group head Awn Chaudhry and other members at Jahangir Tareen’s residence. They discussed the current political scenario in the aftermath of the impending vote on a no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Khan.
They also reviewed administrative issues in Punjab, expressing significant worry about unfettered price hikes, joblessness, and rising corruption, all of which they blamed on CM Buzdar’s weak administrative management in the state.
Hamza Shehbaz also inquired about Jahangir Tareen’s health and prayed for his speedy recovery. The meeting concluded that they should keep meeting and discussing in order to develop a joint plan for controlling Punjab’s political and administrative situation.
Members of the Tareen gang had previously convened at Model Town. The group’s meeting with PML-Q leader and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was announced by Awn Chaudhry. He also informed them that certain government ministers had approached the organisation, urging that ambiguities be cleared up. Sources informed Dawn that “the group members were of the opinion that they should not take the government’s side at this time.”
Imran Goraya, Hamza Shehbaz’s spokesman, initially stated that the meeting resolved that Hamza would be appointed Punjab chief minister, but afterwards withdrew his statement and stated that he will be considered for the position after the next general elections.
Government ministers are also reportedly calling Aleem Khan, who has yet to take a definite stance, to address his concerns.
Though members of the Aleem camp claimed they were waiting for the Tareen group’s final strategy, the group’s senior leader, Ishaq Khakwani, told the media that Aleem Khan personally visited Jahangir Tareen’s residence to meet with group members but was unable to maintain his point of view for more than a few hours.
Mr Khakwani stated that Jahangir Tareen was recuperating quickly and would return to Pakistan early next week. Mr Tareen, he said, had begun partaking in political discussions over the phone.
Mr Khakwani argued that Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen were friends and should talk to one other, despite the fact that his group members are not interested in reestablishing touch with the government. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is said to have played a negative role in the party.
Meanwhile, at the residence of PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, federal Minister for Narcotics Control retired Brigadier Ijaz Shah and PTI leader Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind met.
Moonis Elahi was also present, as were MNAs Salik Hussain and Hussain Elahi, as well as province minister Hafiz Ammar Yasir.
Mr Shah and Mr Rind inquired about Chaudhry Shujaat’s health. During the meeting, the present political scenario in the country, the coalition government, and problems connected to Balochistan were discussed.
“We’ve taken a close look at the current political scenario and are conducting ongoing conversations,” Parvez Elahi remarked.
