ISLAMABAD: Cracks emerged within the Jahangir Tareen group of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday as at least four senior members of Tareen group violated the group’s decision and attended the PTI’s parliamentary party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore.
Those who attended the PTI meeting chaired by Imran Khan and even opposed the Tareen group’s demand for removal of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar included Punjab Ministers Asif Nakai, Akhtar Malik, Samsam Bukhari and Hashim Dogar.
On the other hand, Tareen group has announced its association with the provincial ministers who met Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Spokesperson of Tareen group Saeed Akbar Nawani told media in Lahore that Asif Nikai and Akhtar Malik attended Tareen group meetings but they were never part of the group.
Saeed Akbar Nawani said that Asif Nakai, Akhtar Malik, Samsam Bukhari, Hashim Dogar have never been members of Tareen group.
“We know that there are difficulties when a stand is taken against any government. Transport and pumps of our brother Ajmal Cheema have been closed since last day,” he added.
“We are in the PTI but joined Jahangir Tareen on the basis of our differences. We believe that the man we used to blame for destroying party was later removed by the Prime Minister. Hence, the decision of the Prime Minister proved that our position was right,” he added without mentioning the name of Shehzad Akbar.
“Once proved that our position was right, our position should be accepted or we should be proved wrong by argument,” Saeed Akbar Nawani said.
Spokesman of Jahangir Tareen group said that consultations are underway and the situation is being reviewed on a daily basis.
“We stand by our position and we have no regrets. No one should ever refuse for a dialogue. None of our group has been nominated for the post of Chief Minister yet. We did not have any consultation in this regard yet,” he maintained.
Responding to a question about differences with Aleem Khan, Saeed Akbar Nawani said that he had lot of respect for Aleem Khan and he is part of Tareen group.
“Pervez Elahi is our speaker and our friends met him at his request. There is no word of no return in politics,” he added.
It is to be noted that some members of Jahangir Tareen group have opposed the decision to remove Bazdar. In this regard, provincial minister Samsam Bukhari also announced his separation from Tareen group.
After Punjab Minister Asif Nakai, Provincial Minister Samsam Bukhari also announced a meeting with the Prime Minister.
Samsam Bukhari said that he would meet the Prime Minister in the Chief Minister’s House on Thursday. Earlier, Asif Nikai had said that he was 100 percent with Imran Khan.
A day back, Sardar Khurram Leghari of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Jahangir Tareen group had also rejected the decision of removing Usman Bazdar.
