CM Buzdar assures Tareen group he will address their concerns

• Tareen group meets Punjab CM Usman Buzdar.
• Jahangir Tareen group reposes confidence in CM Punjab's leadership. 
• JKT group has accused the Punjab government of 'revenge tactics'.

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LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar assured members of the PTI lawmakers who are supporting Jahangir Tareen that he would address their concerns.

The development took place today when Buzdar had hosted a luncheon for the group. A six-member delegation comprising Saeed Akbar Khan Nawani, Ajmal Cheema and Nauman Ahmad Langrial met the chief minister to share their concerns with him.

 In response, Buzdar assured the delegation he would address them following which the lawmakers reposed their confidence in the chief minister.

During the meeting, Buzdar said the party was united under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and told them that his doors are open for them. 

"Never do injustice to anyone," he said. 

He further said that politics of revenge is not the Punjab government's style, adding that reservations shared by the JKT group will be addressed.

Speaking to media after the meeting, Saeed Nawani said the group discussed all issues with the chief minister, including the upcoming budget.

"We stand with the government and are satisfied with the meeting," he said. 

Nawani said the group wanted an impartial inquiry [of cases against Jahangir Traeen] and will accept its outcome. Langrial said the group is a part of the PTI and would remain so.

According to Geo News sources, soon after the meeting, the chief minister issued instructions to release development funds for the JKRT group members and directed the bureaucracy to resolve all legal issues.

Sources also said the lawmakers would follow the party discipline and support the government in the budget.

Ready to address reservations

Earlier, PTI MNA Raja Riaz had claimed that CM Buzdar is ready to address the group's reservations.

Read more: Report on Jahangir Tareen cases not yet submitted: Barrister Ali Zafar

The development comes just a day after Tareen had announced a separate group in the Punjab Assembly in response to the "revenge tactics" employed against him and his supporters, clarifying that the group is still a part of the party.

The group's parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly, Saeed Akbar, is set to address the floor of the house tomorrow and will inform the assembly about the "retaliatory actions" taken against the Tareen group, sources said.

Separate group announced

On Wednesday, Tareen had said his supporters had decided to form a separate group after the Punjab government initiated "revenge" against his supporters.

Tareen, however, quickly denied reports he was forming a forward bloc in the party. "We were part of the PTI, we are part of the PTI and we will continue to remain part of the PTI," he announced, outside the banking court where he had appeared for a hearing.

Read more: CM Buzdar blames 'powerful mafia' for attempting to destabilise govt

Tareen was accompanied by his supporters, who include Punjab government ministers and other lawmakers of the PTI.

"There is no investigation against me going on relating to the sugar scandal," he said, adding that the three FIRs registered against him were not filed in any sugar inquiry.

Tareen said his "supporters" were standing with him as far as, what he referred to as the "fake" FIR against him is concerned, adding that the pro-Tareen group had met the prime minister.

Speaking about the inquiry into his allegations led by Barrister Ali Zafar, Tareen said he had met him and had given a detailed explanation to him as well.

"I am confident the report will be given to the prime minister soon," he said.

The PTI leader also said there was "another issue" that needed to be addressed.

"Khan sahab is an honourable man and I believe he is just," said Tareen. "However, the Punjab government has started carrying out a vendetta against members of my group," he added.