LAHORE: Amid reports of a potential meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Jahangir Khan Tareen, the disgruntled leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that he has no direct contact with PM Imran.
Speaking to reporters outside a Lahore court on Thursday, Tareen said some intermediaries assured him that the prime minister will meet him and listen to his demands. It seems that Tareen was given assurance by the PM during the countrywide protests of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan that had rattled the PTI government.
Meanwhile, the court has extended Tareen and his son Ali Tareen’s bail till May 3.
In a comment on the committee formed to allay his concerns, Tareen said that he or any member from his group will not meet any committee, adding that they seek a meeting with Imran only. “I have heard about the formation of a committee to address my grievances through TV, but I haven’t been contacted by it so far,” he said, adding that he doesn’t meet a meeting with any committee.
He accused the ruling PTI of starting a ‘witch-hunt’. During the rule of the PTI, a civil case has been turned into a criminal case, Tareen said, adding he wasn’t meted out such treatment even during the PML-N government.
The PTI leader said that the case against him was made up and not related to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), but still, he was facing investigations by the FIA.
Tareen also said that the lawmakers in his camp will meet CM Usman Buzdar after a consensus in the group.
Tareen has the support of at least 40 PTI lawmakers, who have warned the PM that they will be forced to announce their future strategy if they were to be pushed against the wall. Last week, Raja Riaz, a close aide of Tareen, had said: “We will have no option left if PM Imran refuses to listen to us.”
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.
