LAHORE – Jahangir Khan Tareen, once Prime Minister Imran Khan’s closefriend, Tuesday formalised the split in the ruling party after announcingits separate parliamentary leaders in the Punjab and National Assembly.

Reports in local media suggest that Raja Riaz has been appointed asparliamentary leader of the Jahangir Tareen group in the National Assembly,while Saeed Akbar Nawani will be the parliamentary leader in the PunjabAssembly.

The development came after PTI estranged member Jahangir Tareen hosted adinner at his residence where a number of MNAs and MPAs had joined himwhile Raja Riaz, the most vocal supporter of Tareen, claimed that the totalstrength of the group close to 40.

Earlier today, Tareen while speaking with the press outside a banking courtdenies reports of forming a forward bloc within the ruling party butaccused the Punjab government of ‘revenge politics’ against members of hisgroup.

‘We were part of the Tehreek e Insaf, we are part of it and we willcontinue to remain part of it, Tareen responded to a query. Adding that‘there is no investigation against me going on relating to the sugarscandal, the three FIRs registered against me were not filed in any sugarinquiry’.

My supporters are standing with me as far as, the Punjab govt takingrevenge against loyalists by lodging phony FIRs. Tareen added that he hadmet Ali Zafar, a member of the reconciliation committee, and had given hima detailed explanation. I am confident the report will be given to thePrime Minister soon, he added.

Meanwhile, a session’s court has extended his bail till May 31. During thecourt hearing, a judge asked a Federal investigator about the arrest of Mr.Tareen. The FIA’s investigation officer first kept silent but thenresponded that they are reviewing the records for now.