Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday summoned Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, provincial governor and Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi to Islamabad following a video leak in which Pakistan Muslim League-Q’s (PML-Q) Tariq Cheema could be heard requesting Jehangir Tareen to control Chaudhry Sarwar.
A few days earlier, a video of a meeting between top PML-Q leaders and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Jehangir Tareen raised questions over how much authority Buzdar wields as chief minister in the province and differences between the two allied parties — PTI and PML-Q.
The video, which surfaced on Saturday, showed a meeting between Tareen, Punjab Minister for Mines and Minerals Hafiz Ammar Yasir, and PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Federal Minister for Housing Tariq Bashir Cheema. In the video, Cheema can be heard speaking to Tareen and saying, “Sir, control Sarwar! He will not let your chief minister continue.”
According to sources, the premier has called Buzdar, Sarwar and Elahi to Islamabad to “discuss the matter of the video leak”.
“The premier will hold one-to-one meetings with the three leaders and try to resolve differences between PML-Q members and Sarwar,” they added. “The discussions will also focus on maintaining the balance of power in the Punjab government.”
A strategy for the Senate elections will also be discussed during the meeting, the sources further said.