The Jahangir Khan Tareen group will support the joint Opposition’s candidate, PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz for Punjab’s chief minister slot, senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar said on Saturday hours before an assembly session scheduled to pick Usman Buzdar’s replacement.
The development came 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.
PML-N leader Ishaq Dar took to Twitter to share the big political development and thanked Tareen for announcing his support for Hamza Shahbaz.
Had fruitful final round of discussion with Mr Jehangir Khan Tareen.
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) April 1, 2022
Mutually concluded that #JKT_Group will support joint Opposition's candidate, Mr Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, for the slot of Chief Minister, Punjab.
Deeply appreciate support of #JKT and #JKT_Group
“Had a fruitful final round of discussion with Mr Jehangir Khan Tareen. Mutually concluded that #JKT_Group will support joint Opposition’s candidate, Mr Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, for the slot of Chief Minister, Punjab. Deeply appreciate the support of #JKT and #JKT_Group,” Ishaq Dar Tweeted.
Meanwhile, Tareen group spokesperson Aun Chaudhry has claimed that their 16 MPs will support the joint opposition’s candidate.
Sources said that Hamza Shahbaz will meet with the PTI’s disgruntled lawmakers today and give them all necessary assurances.
