• Hamza Shahbaz meets Jahangir Tareen group members in Lahore.
• Both sides agree to remove Usman Buzdar from CM office.
• Political situation, other matters come under discussion during meeting.

LAHORE: Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz will become the next chief minister, his spokesperson Imran Goraya said Monday, as the pressure grows on PTI to remove Usman Buzdar.

The development came after the PML-N leader met members from the Tareen group at Jahangir Tareen’s residence in Lahore, where they agreed to remove CM Buzdar from office, a joint statement said.

The Tareen group — an offshoot of the ruling PTI — has expressed reservations with CM Punjab and Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, they have not yet decided whether they will support the Opposition’s no-confidence move against the premier.

Sources told Geo News that no member of the National Assembly was present during the meeting and only members of the Punjab Assembly were in attendance.

“During the meeting, the leaders discussed the political situation […] the leaders agreed to remove Usman Buzdar from the chief minister’s office,” the joint statement said.

The statement further stated that the Tareen group members expressed “frustration” over the situation in Punjab.

“They also expressed concerns over the rising inflation, unemployment, and corruption […] the leaders agreed to continue holding meetings,” the statement added.

Two days back, more than 30 assembly members called on CM Buzdar at CM Office separately and expressed their complete confidence in his leadership, APP reported.

Assembly members assured the CM that they are standing beside him and will keep supporting him in future as well.

PPP stalwart Khursheed Shah had said Saturday the joint Opposition would shift their target towards the National Assembly’s speaker and Punjab chief minister after removing the incumbent prime minister from his office.

“After the no-confidence motion [is passed] against PM Imran Khan, we will shift our focus towards National Assembly Speaker [Asad Qaiser] and Chief Minister Punjab [Usman Buzdar],” the veteran politician said while speaking to journalists in Islamabad Saturday.