LAHORE: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Thursday demanded the removal of Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) from the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives outside the Lahore Press Club, PPP’s frontman in Punjab Raja Riaz Ahmed alleged that Rasheed had struck an underhand deal with the government to secure a job for his brother, adding that he remained a silent spectator to problems of the people of Punjab.

He moreover said that Rasheed had not bothered to raise the issue of increasing prices of goods in the House.

Riaz said PTI chief Imran Khan should immediately remove Rasheed from the office of PA opposition leader, adding that the PPP would stage a protest demonstration if he remained in the position.

Furthermore, Riaz said if Rasheed wasn't removed, then it would be understood that the PTI had secret links with the Punjab government.

However, PPP leaders do not seem to see eye to eye on the matter. Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo said it wasn't the party's policy to call for the removal of the provincial assembly's opposition leader.

Wattoo said Riaz had not consulted with party members over the issue, adding that changing the opposition leader was an internal decision for the PTI to make.

Separately, opposition leader Rasheed said the PPP resented the fact that PTI was being the real opposition in the Punjab Assembly, adding that striking underhand deals with the government to secure jobs was characteristic of the PPP, and not PTI.

Rasheed moreover said that PTI's Punjab leadership had announced a protest demonstration against the increasing prices of goods in the provincial capital on Nov 1.

Rasheed alleged that PPP had called the press conference at the behest of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz.