Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Raja Riaz, who is a staunch supporter of estranged PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen, has claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan will meet Tareen in the next few days.
According to Riaz, contacts have been revived between the two politicians and a meeting will be held soon. Speaking on a TV show, Riaz said that a dinner slated to be held at Tareen’s residence was postponed in the light of a potential meeting with PM Imran.
“We are confident that most of the issues will be resolved during the meeting,” MNA Riaz said, adding that Tareen was being denied justice in the cases against him. “Hopefully we will get a big relief when the prime minister comes to know about the facts,” the lawmaker added.
Last week, in a warning to PM Imran Khan, Riaz said that if the PM didn’t listen to their demands then the lawmakers will be forced to look elsewhere.
Riaz, who had appeared alongside Tareen in a banking court in Lahore, said that they were “still seeking justice under the umbrella of the PTI”. “We will have no option left if PM Imran refuses to listen to us,” he warned.
In a warning to the prime minister, MNA Riaz had said that the “PM shouldn’t push us [Tareen and allies], else we will be forced to make our next move”.
The ruling PTI is facing strong internal opposition after a “group of 30 lawmakers” led by Jahangir Khan Tareen accompanied the disgruntled PTI leader on his appearance before a banking court in Lahore for bail in cases against him.
Tareen, once a right-hand of Prime Minister Imran Khan, has been facing cases in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over alleged money laundering and involvement in a mega sugar scam.
Earlier, Tareen had shot down rumours that he would join the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). He had said: “We are the party and we will remain in it. If we don’t stay then where will we go?”
Last Friday, Tareen hosted a dinner for his allied lawmakers which was attended by eight MNAs, including two ministers, and 10 MPAs. These lawmakers also accompanied him to the court the next day in a show of power.
