Govt offers Tareen group ‘funds’ in return for giving up 'minus-Buzdar' demand: sources

• Pervez Khattak and Murad Raas assure Tareen group of releasing funds for the development projects.
• Disgruntled leaders of the PTI tell ministers they cannot take any step without the advice of Jahangir Khan Tareen.
• Another meeting between govt's team, Tareen group is expected in the next 48 hours, say sources.

LAHORE: In a bid to save Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s government in Punjab, the federal government has offered Jahangir Khan Tareen group development funds in return for giving up the “minus-Buzdar” demand, well-informed sources have revealed. 

The sources privy to the matter said that provincial Education Minister Murad Raas met with Tareen group’s Nauman Langrial and Abdul Hayi Dasti to discuss their concerns and complaints.

During the meeting, Raas made a telephone call to Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and both the ruling party’s ministers assured the Tareen group of releasing funds for the development projects.

Meanwhile, Langrial and Dasti conveyed their concerns about the federal government departments to the defence minister.

However, the disgruntled leaders of the PTI told the ministers that they cannot take any step without the advice of Jahangir Khan Tareen and other members of the group.

The sources said that another meeting between the government’s team and the Tareen group is expected within the next 48 hours.

No-trust motion against CM Buzdar 

After the government’s no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Opposition had unified to oust the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar by bringing a no-trust move against him, sources had revealed on March 17.

According to the sources, the Opposition had contacted the Punjab Assembly secretariat to know the procedures regarding the move.

Earlier, PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz had gone to Tareen’s residence where he discussed the political future with the members of the estranged PTI group.

Sources said the members of the Tareen faction claim to be "mentally ready to separate themselves from the PTI government."

PTI ministers request Tareen group

On March 19, following the decision taken by the Tareen group to avoid meeting government figures, the latter had requested them not to take “extreme steps immediately”.

JKT group leader Aun Chaudhry had claimed that Defence Minister Pervez Khattak contacted him last night, urging him not to take decisions immediately as the government will soon update the disgruntled leaders regarding the latest developments.

Meanwhile, sources had said that Khattak urged Chaudhry not to take extreme steps after reports emerged that the JKT group had decided not to meet government figures.