Tareen group links support to Buzdar’s ouster

Lawmakers belonging to estranged PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen’s group on Tuesday announced that they would only support the government in the no-confidence move if it accepted their condition to remove Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar from his post.

After a meeting in the provincial capital, Punjab MPA Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial told the media that all members of the group had given full authority to Tareen to make any decision on their behalf
 Tareen is currently in London and has been informed about the current situation via video link.

“I want to highlight here that all members of the group are united on the strategy to move forward [to vote against the no-trust motion] if the government accepts the minus Buzdar formula,” Langrial added.
“All like-minded members of the group are willing to accept the decision made by Tareen.”

He indicated that they were in contact with different political parties as the group had a majority after two big political parties in the House. “We are updating Tareen about the current political developments in the country and will accept whatever decision is made by our leader.”

He said another important meeting was scheduled for Wednesday (today) to evaluate the political circumstances and formulate the group’s future course of action.

Also read: Disgruntled Aleem Khan joins Tareen faction

To a question about the possible nomination of PTI leader Aleem Khan, who had announced joining the Tareen group a day earlier, for the slot of the Punjab chief minister, Langrial said their leader would make the decision and all members would unconditionally accept it.

“We are united as a family. Aleem Khan had been informed that if he wanted to be a part of this group, he had to accept the decisions made by Tareen,” he added. At the end of the news conference, Langrial asserted that it was not rebellion.

“We have been given a mandate by the people who have certain expectations from us. We are deliberating not only about the party, but also about the province.” He also dodged a question about the possible nomination of PML-Q’s Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the chief minister, reiterating that Tareen would make the decision.

Separately, Punjab government spokesperson Hasaan Khawar contradicted the news being aired by different media outlets that a meeting was held between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Buzdar for the latter’s resignation. “Buzdar has neither submitted his resignation, nor was the topic discussed in the meeting [with PM Imran].”

He added that the meeting between PM Imran and Buzdar was held in a cordial manner. “Buzdar is a soldier of the prime minister. He is taking forward the premier’s vision in Punjab.” In another statement, he clarified that Buzdar had not given any message to the leadership about his post.
“The chief minister did not say anything against Aleem Khan, handing over the position to Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi or keeping it with himself.”

Khawar added that Buzdar had reposed his full trust in the leadership of PM Imran. “The PTI is united under the leadership of PM Imran,” he maintained. “Every conspiracy hatched by the opponents to create cracks in the government ranks will fail.” The spokesperson further said difference of opinion and complaints happened in households as well as in political parties.

“The opposition was clean bowled by the prime minister for making the decision to reduce electricity and petroleum prices.” Khawar claimed that they were in contact with all the stakeholders of Punjab and wanted to resolve all matters though talks.