PTI leader Jahangir Tareen on Wednesday broke quiet over stories that he is meeting ex-president Asif Ali Zardari and may join up the PPP.
The PTI leader denied the reports, declaring he was not separating paths with the party.
Tareen was talking to the media after he came at the banking court to attend his bail inquiry. “Not one, not two but three FIRs have been listed against me,” he said.
“Out of the 80 sugar mill owners, all they could see was Jahangir Tareen,” he replied, asking why he was being imperiled to “revenge”.
The PTI leader said his “allegiance is being tested”. He added that a probe against him, concerning to the sugar catastrophe, has been going on for the last year.
He grieved that his accounts as well as those belonging to his son, Ali Tareen, had been halted. “Why have my accounts been halted? Who is doing this? Who benefits from this?” he inquired.
Tareen told he was “asking for justice from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf”, adding that he was a comrade, but is being “pushed towards hostility”.
In reply to a question, Tareen said it was time to uncover those implicated in a conspiracy against him. He said PM Khan can reveal the person who was hell-bent on demanding revenge against him.
Despite his criticisms against the ruling party, Tareen said he was not splitting ways with the PTI. “I am a part of the PTI and will remain so,” he said.
When a reporter questioned Tareen whether he was about to meet former president and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari, he said the stories were not correct.
Tareen to meet Zardari next week, may join PPP: Shehla Raza
Sindh Minister for Women Development Shahla Raza, who belongs to the PPP, on Tuesday erased a tweet in which she guessed on the prospect of Tareen joining PPP through a meeting “next week” with Zardari in Karachi.
Raza had alleged Tareen had already met PPP’s Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood, and “it is assumed he will meet Zardari” in Karachi.
“It is believed he will leave PTI and join PPP along with his advisers during the meeting,” she had tweeted.
“If such a thing happens, neither will Buzdar [remain in the government], nor will Niazi,” the PPP leader had written.
Reacting to Raza’s statement, Tareen had said a “constant disinformation” campaign is in place against him. “The rumors of my meeting with PPP leaders are groundless.”
“Persons spreading rumours against me will be saddened,” he added.
The advancement comes after the Federal Investigation Agency [FIA] sent notes to Tareen and his son, Ali Tareen, summoning them in various investigations, on April 9.
FIA indices cases against Jahangir Tareen, son
Earlier this week, it was informed that FIA Lahore had registered a case of suspected fraud of Rs3.14 billion on March 22 against father-son duo.
The FIR says that Jahangir purportedly transferred illicit shares worth billions of rupees to Farooqi Pulp Mills Limited (FPML), which is held by his son and close relatives.
It says the allocations, especially after 2011-12, were “blatantly fraudulent investments which eventually turned into personal benefits” for Jahangir’s family. Some Rs3 billion were invested and laundered through the same factory.
Jahangir Tareen not as near to PTI now: Sheikh Rasheed
Earlier this month, Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said Jahangir Tareen is now “far away” from the PTI.
The interior minister was speaking about the PTI leader on Geo News programme Aapas ki Baat. He had said there is a major gap now among PTI, the government and Jahangir.
Inquired about the inclusion of the names of Jahangir and his son Ali Tareen on the Exit Control List, Rasheed had told that he had not yet got any evidence on the subject.