PM Imran ‘inquires after estranged PTI leader Jahangir Tareen’

FM Qureshi also downplays the contact, saying the telephonic conversation only a ‘goodwill gesture’

Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke to estranged PTI leader Jahangir Tareen over the phone after a long hiatus and inquired after his health, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi confirmed on Monday.

Speaking to a local TV channel, Qureshi downplayed the premier’s contact with the ailing disgruntled leader, saying PM Imran called his former close aide as a “goodwill gesture” after he fell ill.

According to the media reports, the premier telephoned Tareen before his departure to London, reportedly for medical treatment.

The development comes days after two federal ministers urged the prime minister to contact Tareen in an effort to torpedo the chances of success of the opposition’s no-confidence move, sources had told The Express Tribune.

It is learnt that the two federal ministers met the prime minister, suggesting him to contact Tareen but got a stony silence from him, the sources added.

PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah on Saturday dismissed rumours that estranged PTI leader Tareen was travelling to London to hold a meeting with party supremo Nawaz Sharif.

Also read: Jahangir Tareen group may join hands with opp: sources

“As per my information, Tareen went for her medical treatment and no meeting is scheduled with Mian Nawaz Sharif," Sanaullah added.

The Jahangir Tareen group is considering supporting the opposition in the no-trust move against the PTI-led government, sources had said after the group held a meeting at the residence of Awn Chaudhry under the chairmanship of Tareen.

The group gave authority to Tareen to take a final decision.

According to sources, the majority of the group’s members decided to enter the political arena with full force and launch the anti-government strategy.

Most members of the group suggested standing with the PML-N in the anti-government stance while those hailing from Jhang advised maintaining independent status.