The Jahangir Khan Tareen faction of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insasf on Saturday announced its support for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Hamza Shehbaz in the run-up to the Punjab chief minister seat for the “betterment of the country”, giving another blow to the ruling party in the province considered by many as the primary battleground of Pakistan's political landscape.

“We informed Jehangir Khan Tareen [about our meetings] and in the wee hours of Saturday at around 3am our leader announced his support for PML-N candidate Hamza Shehbaz in the Punjab CM election,” estranged PTI leader Nauman Langrial said in a press conference in Lahore where he was accompanied by Hamza Shehbaz.

The Punjab Assembly will convene on Sunday (tomorrow) to elect the new chief minister of the province after Governor Chaudhry Sarwar accepted Usman Buzdar's resignation. This came after the session was held briefly on Saturday (today) after a four-hour delay and amid sloganeering from both opposition and treasury benches. The session was adjourned till 11:30am Sunday (tomorrow).

Langrial was of the view that the united opposition was “making efforts” for the country’s prosperity and progress. “Unfortunately, the members of the Tareen group were playing the role of opposition while sitting on the treasury benches [in Punjab Assembly] for more than one year.”

Elaborating on the reasons for such a situation, he alleged that doubts were cast and a fake report was registered against their leader Jehangir Tareen. “Even FIR was registered against Tareen’s wife and son,” Langrial said, adding that all the group leaders had protested against such developments.

He added that their concern “proved right” after the PTI “expelled” former adviser to the PM on interior and accountability Shahzad Akbar. After this, Langrial continued, an incompetent chief minister was appointed. He accused former Punjab CM Usman Buzdar of promoting corruption and damaging his own party.

“As many as six MNAs had opposed the name proposed by PM Imran for the Punjab CM seat,” Langrial said in an apparent reference to Buzdar.

Defending the group’s support for Hamza, he said the faction took the decision for the “betterment of the country" and expressed hope that Hamza would serve the province and end apparent corruption from the province. “We will also help them in identifying corrupt practices in the province.”

Hamza Shehbaz thanked Jehangir Tareen for the support. He added that the purpose was to end “corruption” in the province, adding that the opposition has got the majority in the Centre and the province.

Without naming the prime minister, Hamza termed Imran Khan a “mafia” and accused the latter of controlling basic items prices.

To a query on any apparent deal with the opposition, the Tareen group leader said they have not signed any agreement or sought anything in return for supporting the PML-N candidate.