Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured Chauhdry Parvez Elahi, the party’s nominee for Punjab chief minister, that the PTI would make him victorious in the run-up to becoming the chief executive of the country’s most populous province.

“I assure you [Chaudhry Parvez Elahi] that the party [PTI] stands with you and will make you victorious [in the Punjab CM election],” PM Imran said while addressing the party’s provincial lawmakers in Punjab on Tuesday. He was accompanied by party members, coalition party PML-Q leader Parvez Elahi, Punjab Governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema and AML leader Sheikh Rashid.

PM Imran also praised former Punjab CM Buzdar for his performance and for serving with “simplicity” for more than three years. He was of the view that “time will prove that Buzdar’s performance was excellent” and continued to praise him.

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“This time I will personally look into awarding party tickets in Punjab. I am happy my team is standing with me. I want to appreciate women MPAs. The country is changing so are the politics of constituencies,” PM Imran said.

On the occasion, former provincial chief minister Usman Buzdar, along with as many as 197 PTI members, also extended full support to Parvez as leader of the house of the Punjab Assembly.

Thanking the premier and PTI for the support, Parvez said: “Time will prove that it was a good decision.” He was of the view that mutual cooperation would benefit both parties.

The PML-Q leader -- who is competing against the opposition's candidate Hamza Shehbaz for the coveted seat -- claimed that the PTI government brought record legislation – including making the finality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Quran a part of compulsory education – in Punjab.

Separately, the premier had called on Parvez and former Water Resources minister Moonis Elahi in Lahore. According to a statement issued by the PM Office, they discussed the political situation, which took a new turn on Sunday after former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri rejected the no-confidence motion and termed it against Article 5 of the Constitution.

It is pertinent to mention that the erstwhile opposition had moved Supreme Court over the matter, while the apex court had also taken a suo motu notice, and the hearing on the issue will resume today (Wednesday).