PTI's Jahangir Tareen group meets amid Opposition's no-confidence bid

LAHORE: Members from PTI's Jahangir Tareen faction met on Tuesday amid the Opposition's bid to move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan and oust the government.

In a conversation with the media after the meeting, estranged PTI leader Jahangir Tareen said that the political meeting was important in light of the current political situation in the country.

The Opposition has repeatedly claimed that lawmakers from the PTI are in contact with them and that when the time would be right, they would move a no-confidence motion against the premier.

Sources privy to the matter said that the meeting took place at the residence of former special assistant to chief minister Punjab Awn Chaudhry, who hosted dinner for the lawmakers from national and provincial assemblies of the Tareen group.

Tareen said the critical political condition required a consultative meeting as the country is witnessing high inflation, adding that "it is difficult for the people to survive in this economy."

Shedding light on the meeting, Tareen said that the current political situation and inflation came under discussion.

"Politicians keep contact with each other, and these contacts will continue to exist," he added. He also said that the politicians would consult each other on the country's situation.

Talking about the no-confidence motion, Tareen said: "No discussions regarding the no-trust motion took place as it's too early to talk about it."

Tareen also requested PM Imran Khan "to focus on the country's economy as the people should get relief."

Fazl meets Tareen: sources

In a bid to intensify the no-confidence motion bid against Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Opposition has been approaching the political parties to overthrow the PTI-led government. 

According to the sources, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had met Tareen two days ago. 

According to reports, some mutual friends arranged a meeting between Fazl and Tareen as the former sought help from PTI's estranged leader regarding the current situation and future issues.

However, JUI leader Akram Khan Durrani refuted the reports of the meeting, but added that Fazl and Tareen "might meet in future."

Shahbaz meets Chaudhry brothers

On the other hand, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif had met PML-Q's Chaudhry brothers — allies of the PTI-led government — at their residence after 14 years as the Opposition seeks to mount pressure on the government.

Sources said the meeting lasted an hour and a half, where the Opposition leader sought PML-Q, who is a crucial ally of the government in Punjab and Centre, to support them in their quest of overthrowing Prime Minister Imran Khan's regime.

"Back us in our bid to bring a no-confidence motion against [PM Imran Khan]. The Opposition has a unanimous stance that the government should go home," sources quoted Shabaz as saying.

In response, according to sources, the Chaudhry brothers told Shahbaz that they would "consult their party leaders on the current political situation" as the coming days "are important".