PM Imran Khan says government is 'stable' in meeting with Punjab CM, governor

• PM Imran Khan to meet PTI parliamentary party in Lahore.
• PM will discuss political developments with CM Usman Buzdar.
  
• Two Tareen group members will also meet PM.
  
• PM Imran Khan also holds meeting with Punjab MPAs elected on minority and women's seats.
  

LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan told Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Governor Chaudhry Sarwar that the government is "stable" as they face the threat of a no-confidence motion.

Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived on a day's visit to Lahore Thursday as the Jahangir Tareen group ramped up the pressure on CM Punjab, demanding his removal amid political uncertainty in the country due to the no-trust motion against the premier.

In the meeting between the three leaders, the prime minister said the most important political matters would take place in Islamabad — given that the National Assembly is situated there.

"A detailed discussion on Punjab's political situation will be held after due diligence," the prime minister said during the meeting, where the country's political situation came under discussion among other matters.

Federal ministers Asad Umar, Shafqat Mahmood, Hammad Azhar, Khusro Bakhtiar, Shah Mahmood Qureshi are with the PM in Lahore.

The prime minister is expected to hold a meeting of the PTI parliamentary party in the provincial capital to seek assurance of the party members and address their grievances ahead of crucial voting on the motion, according to Geo News.

According to reports, the PM will also meet CM Buzdar during his visit to Lahore, who will brief the premier on his contacts and support in the Punjab Assembly.

The PM will also meet Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar and several senior Punjab party leaders, including provincial ministers Samsam Bukhari and Asif Nakai, who are members of the Tareen group.

The Jahangir Tareen group has already announced a boycott of the parliamentary meeting.

Governor Sarwar will brief the prime minister on the latest political developments in the province. They will also hold discussions on the disgruntled Tareen group and other matters related to the government in Punjab.

Tareen group asks Pervaiz Elahi's support 

The prime minister's visit came a day after a delegation headed by Tareen Group’s provincial minister Nauman Langrial called on PML-Q leader and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at his residence.

The delegation comprised provincial minister Ajmal Cheema, Aun Chaudhry, Lala Tahir Randhawa, Abdul Hayyi Dasti and Imran Shah. During the meeting, detailed consultation was held regarding the prevailing political situation in Punjab. 

Elahi and Tareen Group agreed to continue contacts for the betterment of the province and the people.

Langrial said that Punjab had been destroyed and the group would have to come to the fore in the interest of the people as they had decided to remove Usman Buzdar. 

He called upon Pervaiz Elahi to support the Tareen Group in this regard. He said that he would also call on Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain soon.

PM meets Punjab MPAs

PM Imran Khan also held a meeting with Punjab MPAs elected on minority and women's seats.

The premier said that female and minority lawmakers in the national and Punjab assemblies play an “important role” in legislation. He added that the PTI considers merit while appointing people on reserved seats.

“In the past, political parties used to appoint people on reserved seats based on nepotism,” claimed PM Imran. He added that when the PTI came to power, it inherited a "bankrupt economy" and the incumbent government’s “successful” policy stabilised it.

The premier told the lawmakers that the country’s economy is on sustainable growth now.

Separately, the premier also held a meeting with provincial ministers Sardar Asif Nakai and Samsam Bukhari.

According to the PM Office, the overall political situation of the country was reviewed during the meeting.

PM Imran also held a meeting with Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht and Head of Special Monitoring Unit Punjab Faisal Asif to review the development projects in the province.

On the other hand, sources told Geo News that six PML-N lawmakers were present when Prime Minister Imran Khan held a meeting with Punjab MPAs.

Sources privy to the meeting said that the PML-N lawmakers have assured PM Imran Khan of "unwavering support" and assured him of getting support from more lawmakers.

Officials also shared that the PM told the lawmakers that ahead of the vote he will hold the country’s “biggest” rally. The PM also told the lawmakers to focus on Islamabad.