Nazir Ahmad Chohan, a senior member newly-formed Jahangir Khan Tareen Group, has accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of behaving like a dictator. Chohan was speaking in a talk show on a private TV channel when he issued these remarks. “I want to make it clear that nobody is ready to address our grievances. Prime Minister Imran Khan appears on TV as if he is a dictators issuing orders for everyone,” he said.
Chohan also said that “not only Imran Khan was struggling for the supremacy of law in Pakistan rather we all spent our lives and wealth for this greater cause.” “There should be a platform where we can challenge some of the premier’s decision as it happens in all democracies of the world,” he added.
Notably, Jahangir Khan Tareen on Tuesday formalised the split in the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, when he announced parliamentary leaders of “his group” — both in the National and the Punjab assemblies. This move is likely to have serious implications for the ruling party as the next budget session is just around the corner. Some analysts expect a counter move by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
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Raja Riaz, a member of the National Assembly from Faisalabad, and the most vocal supporter of Mr Tareen, was named the group’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, while Saeed Akbar Niwani in the Punjab assembly.
No space for those who don’t consider Imran Khan their leader
Senior leaders of the ruling PTI have expressed their commitment to Prime Minister Imran Khan after the reported formation of a ‘group’ within the party.
Speaking from Turkey, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is the PTI vice president, said all members of the party were supposed to follow discipline and warned that “violation of rules could affect their membership”.
“No member of the party can violate the rules on Vote of Confidence and Finance Bill,” Qureshi said in his statement on issues related to party discipline.
Qureshi noted that the prime minister, on demand by some party members, had given the responsibility of an inquiry into the cases against Jahangir Tareen to Barrister Ali Zafar, and that he will prepare a report on the matter.
Meanwhile, he said, there is no room in the party for people who do not repose confidence in PM Khan, the founding member of PTI. “These people should decide if they consider Imran Khan as their leader,” he added.
Without Imran Khan and his voters, he said, these people would not have been able to reach the assemblies.