Qureshi, Tareen face off over attending official meetings

LAHORE: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is also Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have taken a strong exception on Jahangir Khan Tareen's participation in official meetings.Talking to journalists in Lahore, Qureshi requested Tareen to avoid attending government meetings as this is not only contempt of Supreme Court verdict but it also provides the opposition an opportunity to criticise the party.The foreign minister also stated that it is violation of Rules of Business and that the Federal Secretaries are not bound to follow his instructions.Responding to the statement, ex-PTI Secretary General Jahangir Tareen said he attended those meetings with PM Imran Khan's permission and on his invitation.No one can stop him from serving his country, not even Shah Mehmood Qureshi, said Tareen.This is not the first time that two senior aides of the prime minister have public spoken against each other. PM Imran too, had in the past admitted that the PTI is divided in groups led by his senior party members.Last month, Jahangir Tareen had briefed the Federal Cabinet on agriculture reforms package. The opposition parties questioned under what capacity did the former PTI official was allowed to attend the high-level meeting.