'PTI's 24 estranged MPAs assure support to Hamza Shahbaz'

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) 24 estranged members have assured support to Hamza Shahbaz in Chief Minister’s election in Punjab, sources said on Thursday.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had filed a reference against its 24 estranged MPAs with the Speaker Punjab Assembly recently. The reference included the members of Jahangir Tareen, Abdul Aleem Khan and Asad Khokhar groups, sources said.

“The reference has been filed to blackmail us,” the members quoted as saying. “Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has sent message to return back to the fold assuring no action against them,” sources said.

“We have decided to support Hamza Shahbaz after thorough consideration,” sources quoted the disgruntled PTI members as saying. “We have also jointly decided not to respond to the reference,” members said.

“We are united and they will be unable to break any fellow member from us,” members claimed.

According to sources, most of the PTI’s estranged members have decided to to tender resignations after casting vote for Hamza.

A bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday ordered for holding free and fair election of the Punjab chief minister on April 16.

The court also directed the Secretary Punjab Assembly to finalize preparations for election by April 15.