Jahangir Tareen says like-minded group is not a forward bloc in PTI 

Jahangir Tareen says like-minded group is not a forward bloc in PTI 

Lahore (Web Desk): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jehangir Khan Tareen on Wednesday said that the like-minded group of his supporters is not a forward bloc.

Talking to media outside a banking court in Lahore, he accused the Punjab government of ‘revenge politics’ against members of his group.

Responding to a question by a reporter, Tareen said that his group was part of the PTI it is part of it and will continue to remain part of the PTI.

He said that no investigation against him was going on regarding the sugar scandal.

Tareen added that the three FIRs registered against him were not filed in any sugar inquiry.

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

He added that he had met Ali Zafar, a member of the reconciliation committee, and had given him a detailed explanation.

“I am confident the report will be given to the Prime Minister soon,” Tareen said.

Earlier on Tuesday, The estranged PTI leader announced parliamentary leaders of “his group”, both in the National and the Punjab assemblies.

The most vocal supporter of Jahangir Tareen and Member of National Assembly (MNA) from Faisalabad Raja Riaz was named the group’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, while Saeed Akbar Niwani in the Punjab Assembly.

According to Raja Riaz, the announcement came at a dinner hosted by Tareen at his residence where four more MNAs and as many MPAs had joined the group bringing the total strength of the group close to 40.

Meanwhile, a sessions court in Lahore on Wednesday granted extension in interim bails to Jahangir Tareen and his son Ali Tareen.

During the hearing, the judge asked a federal investigator about the arrest of Mr Tareen.
The FIA's investigation officer first kept silent but then responded that they are reviewing the records for now.

Tareen's counsel told the court that the FIA had registered three cases against the PTI leader and a sessions court had directed it to complete the inquiry against his client in one of the cases by May 31.

He maintained that all the required records and the complete money trail had been submitted to the FIA in the fake accounts case.

At that, the court directed the FIA to complete the inquiry in the case at the earliest and extended the bail of the accused until May 31.