The Jahangir Khan Tareen group will support the joint opposition’s candidate, PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz, for Punjab chief minister slot, senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar said on Saturday hours before an assembly session scheduled to pick Usman Buzdar’s replacement.
The development came after a meeting between former finance minister Ishaq Dar and PTI’s ex-secretary general Jahangir Tareen in London.
Insiders said that the two sides discussed the upcoming no-confidence vote on Sunday and the election of the Punjab chief minister.
Dar and Tareen spoke over the phone a couple of days ago, they said. The two leaders discussed possible ways of cooperation in Punjab and the Centre.
Dar took to Twitter to share the big political development and thanked Tareen for announcing his support for Hamza.
“Had a fruitful final round of discussion with Mr Jehangir Khan Tareen. Mutually concluded that #JKT_Group will support joint Opposition’s candidate, Mr Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, for the slot of Chief Minister, Punjab. Deeply appreciate the support of #JKT and #JKT_Group,” Ishaq Dar Tweeted.
Meanwhile, Tareen group spokesperson Aun Chaudhry has claimed that their 16 MPs will support the joint opposition’s candidate.
It is learnt that Hamza will meet with the PTI’s disgruntled lawmakers on Saturday (today) and give them all necessary assurances.
PML-Q: Meanwhile, all the efforts of PML-Q leader and federal minister Moonis Elahi went in vain to talk to the Jahangir Tareen group in a bid to garner support for his father Pervaiz Elahi as CM Punjab.
Moonis Elahi had a four-hour long meeting with the disgruntled JKT group, however, the meeting did not end up with a positive result.
When asked about the meeting, Moonis tried to put off journalists by saying, “all is well.”
However, PTI MPA Nauman Langrial said they had been in contact with Jahangir Tareen and the next round of meetings would be held at 2 pm.
