LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former provincial minister Aleem Khan has announced to join the Jahangir Tareen Khan group, amid signs of a major political development in the country.
Aleem Khan made the announcement after a meeting of like-minded members at the residence of the Jahangir Tareen group to discuss the developing political situation. Tareen — who is currently in London seeking medical treatment — joined the meeting via video link.
Addressing a press conference, Aleem Khan said Jahangir Tareen strived hard and a prominent role in the party’s rise to power. He said they sided with Prime Minister Imran Khan but were neglected after PTI came into power. He said he couldn’t understand why Jahangir Tareen’s expertise was not utlised after coming into power.
“Many people do not understand why this happened. All those people who worked for Naya Pakistan alongside the prime minister, why were they ignored? There is no answer for this,” he said.
“Other people surround the leader when governments are formed,” he said, adding that “committed and loyal” workers were pushed aside. He said that there were growing concerns over the party’s performance in Punjab.
Provincial ministers Nauman Langrial, Ajmal Cheema, MPAs Khurram Leghari, Abdul Hai Dasti, Lala Tahir Randhawa, Salman Naeem, Aslam Bharwana, Saeed Nawani, Zawar Hussain, Bilal Warraich, Amin Chaudry, Qasim Langah were among those that gathered at Tareen’s residence.’
Punjab chief minister’s former adviser, Awn Chaudry, was also among the attendees. After being pressed by reporters on arrival, he said the members of the group would welcome Aleem Khan. He refused to answer whether Aleem Khan would become Punjab’s Chief Minister.
The government was not perturbed by the political activity in Lahore. Interestingly, the prime minister has sent Governor Sindh Imran Ismail to Lahore to placate Aleem Khan but was unable to contact him. It was earlier reported that the prime minister had called Aleem Khan but he did not attend his call.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry asserted that Tareen and Aleem Khan were still an integral part of the ruling PTI. He added that internal politics within a party was a common occurrence.
