LAHORE: The Jahangir Khan Tareen group Saturday formally announced to support Hamza Shahbaz for Punjab’s chief minister slot.
Addressing a joint press conference with Hamza, Jahangir Tareen group’s senior leader Malik Nauman Langriyal made the official announcement, adding that Hamza will serve the people of the province. Hamza is the joint Opposition’s candidate for Punjab’s chief minister slot.
He further added that all the decisions have been taken by estranged PTI leader Jahangir Tareen and all members of his group agree with the decision.
Speaking on the occasion, Hamza said he will surprise the people after the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan succeeds tomorrow.
Speaker Punjab Assembly has called a session tomorrow at 3 pm for the election of the chief minister.
Earlier, senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar had hinted at this development after a meeting between former finance minister Ishaq Dar and PTI’s ex-secretary general Jahangir Tareen at a hotel in London.
Sources said that the two sides discussed the upcoming no-confidence vote on Sunday and the election of the chief minister of Punjab.
Two days earlier, it was also reported that Dar and Tareen spoke over the phone. The telephonic conversation was confirmed by sources close to Dar and Tareen. People, with knowledge of the meeting, said that the two leaders discussed possible ways of cooperation in Punjab and the Centre.
Meanwhile, all the efforts of PML-Q leader and federal minister Moonis Elahi went in vain to cajole the Jahangir Tareen group in a bid to garner support for 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.
Upon asking about the meeting result, Moonis Elahi tried to put off journalists by saying, “all is well.”
