Shazia Marri rejects reports of Jahangir Tareen joining PPP

• PPP MNA Shazia Marri says reports claiming Jahangir Tareen joining PPP have no credence.
• Marri says PPP respects ANP's decision to leave PDM as it is an independent political party.
• Marri says PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari showing restraint against criticism from PDM.

Shazia Marri has dismissed reports claiming that PTI stalwart Jahangir Tareen is joining the PPP after reports emerged a day earlier that he may part ways with the ruling party.

On Tuesday, Sindh Minister for Women Development Shahla Raza deleted that PTI leader Jahangir Tareen may join the PPP during a meeting "next week" with ex-president Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi.

Raza claimed Tareen had already met PPP's Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood, and "it is believed he will meet former president Asif Ali Zardari" in Karachi.

Read more: Shehla Raza deletes tweet on Jahangir Tareen, Zardari's 'meeting next week'

"It is believed he will leave PTI and join PPP along with his aides during the meeting.

Responding to Raza's statement, Tareen had said a "consistent propaganda" campaign is in place against him. "The reports of my meeting with PPP leaders are baseless."

"People spreading rumours against me will be disappointed," he added.

Today PPP’s Central Information Secretary Shazia Marri also dismissed the claims in a conversation with Geo Pakistan.

Read more: Stop the smear campaign, future sales are normal business activity, says Jahangir Tareen

“According to my information, reports claiming Jahangir Tareen joining PPP have no credence,” Marri told the hosts. She added that all such news reports were "incorrect".

Reports regarding Tareen came in the backdrop of the FIA notices sent to Tareen and his son, Ali Tareen.

We respect ANP’s decision

Marri was also asked about the future of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) after ANP decided to leave the Opposition alliance over show-cause notices sent to them.

The PPP leader said that ANP is an independent political party that the PPP respects the party's decision to leave the alliance. 

Read more: 'Humiliating move,' JUI-F, PML-N respond to ANP's exit from PDM

“It’s a political party and is independent and has the right to make its own decisions and it did,” said Marri.

Bilawal showing restraint

The PPP MNA also spoke about the show-cause notice sent by the PDM to her party, saying that party chairman Bilawal Bhutto was showing restraint in the face of growing criticism from the Opposition alliance, especially PML-N leaders. 

Marri said the PPP has given no indication of separating from the PDM and reminded that the party was among the founders of the Opposition alliance.

“This alliance was formed against this selected government and all Opposition parties joined and gathered on a forum,” she said. She added that all the 10 parties had one objective which was to send the government packing.

Read more: PDM's future in question as ANP announces break-up over show-cause notice

“PPP still wants to send this incompetent government home,” said the lawmaker. She added that the PPP believes in working with the Opposition by keeping their differences aside but said it seem as if the PML-N thought otherwise.

“We have given reacted to the show -cause notice sent to us as well. We have also questioned the person who sent the show cause notice, asking in what capacity did he send it,” said Marri. She explained that her party was independent and was “not subordinate to anyone”.

The PDM alliance is in doldrums after leaders of the Awami National Party withdrew from the forum after show-cause notices were issued to the party to explain their actions during the recently held Senate polls.

The decision was announced by Ameer Haider Khan Hoti during a press conference in Peshawar.

Read more: PPP decides to respond to PDM's show-cause notice

It comes a day after the notices were issued, to both ANP and PPP.

PPP was asked to explain within a week, its move to get appointed its candidate, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, as Leader of Opposition in Senate, without first obtaining the consent of parties of the Opposition alliance.

ANP, on the other hand, was issued a notice for supporting the PPP in its efforts to get Gillani designated by roping in senators from the government's ally Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) to complete the numbers required.