Jahangir Tareen Says he is Backed by 40 Lawmakers of the PTI

In recent news, Jahangir Tareen, dissident leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said that some of his allies in the federal capital of the country have assured him, as well as his group, of a meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan.

Tareen claimed that he has the support of around 40 lawmakers of the party in his quest to have a sit-down with the premier. While speaking in front of cameras outside a court in the city of Lahore, he went on to say that none of his shareholders, who are consequently the plaintiffs in his case, are against him. 

In the opinion of the dissident leader, the cases registered against him are not criminal ones and therefore, should not be investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Instead, he believes that these cases should be overseen by the FBR (Federal Board of Revenue) and the SECP (Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan). 

Tareen iterated that the court will grant him justice, while talking about how the previous government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had served him several notices to investigate his businesses. This happened soon after he came out in support of the now standing Prime Minister, Imran Khan. 

The sugar baron maintained that even the PML-N government had not been able to turn these civil cases into criminal ones. He added how he had seen on TV that the government is forming committees, however, he has not yet been contacted. 

Tareen refused to speak with a government committee, saying that his relationship with the premier is an old and long one and it cannot be weakened by injustice. 

The dissident PTI leader also revealed that while he had been hosting an iftar for his colleagues at his residence, he was contacted by several people in Islamabad. They assured him that him and his group will soon have their own meeting with the Prime Minister. 

The Minister of Punjab, Nauman Langrial, took to speaking on the occasion as well. He asserted that he is on Tareen’s side and that Usman Buzdar, the Chief Minister of the province, has assured them that this matter will soon be sorted out. Langrial added that the contributions made by Tareen for the well-being of the PTI could not be overlooked. 

Earlier on, Hamid Hussain, the Judge of Additional Sessions, had announced an extension in the interim bail of the dissident PTI leader, as well as Ali Tareen, his son. The former general secretary of the PTI was given time to make the payment until the 3rd of May. 

Tareen was once said to be a very close friend of the leader of the country. However, he was sidelined when an inquiry report related to a sugar crisis in the country claimed that he had benefitted, at large, due to a steep hike in the prices of this particular commodity in January of 2020.