Govt to lose majority: if JKT group withdraws support, says Niwani

LAHORE: The members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf belonging to the camp of Jehangir Khan Tareen have warned that the government could lose majority if this group withdraws support to it.

Saeed Niwani, one of the senior most legislators of the PA while speaking on the floor of the Punjab Assembly over the issue of registration of a case against MPA Nazir Chohan on the complaint of PM's Advisor Shahzad Akbar, said the JKT group members are part of the PTI and would help in the passage of budget. However, he said the government would lose majority if they withdraw support to it. He demanded immediate quashing of the case registered against Chohan. The situation got tense in the House when Law Minister Raja Basharat challenged Chohan to come up with two witnesses who could testify that Shahzad Akbar is a Qadiyani. Basharat stated that Chohan had posed questions to the prime minister whereas no one had the right to ask anyone about his religious beliefs. He also asked Chohan to quit the assembly if he feels dissatisfied on which Saeed Akber Niwani, who hails from Bhakker, came up in support of Chohan. He said why Chohan should resign from the assembly and stated that every member has the right to ask questions. Niwani went on to say that they (Tareen group members) have no intention to oppose the budget and would pass it but warned that the government could not stay if they withdraw the support.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday notified an informal committee of the House constituted to present the viewpoint of Punjab and dispel the propaganda against Punjab regarding the issue of alleged stealing of Sindh’s water in violation of the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991. The committee comprises Mohsin Leghari, minister for Irrigation, Ch Zaheeruddin, minister for Public Prosecution, Sajid Ahmed Khan, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Syed Usman Mehmood, and Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh. The committee will clarify the viewpoint of Punjab regarding the matter of distribution of water among the provinces.