PTI leaders Asad Umar and Asad Qaiser on Monday distanced themselves from Jahangir Khan Tareen, a former close aide of PTI chief Imran Khan who now leads a group of dissidents within the party.
Their statements come as reports emerge of Tareen’s group intensifying efforts to attract defectors from PTI ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Asad Umar, who recently resigned from his party positions but remains a member of PTI, made the statements outside an Islamabad court where he appeared in a case related to violent protests that occurred in the country on May 9.
When questioned by reporters about joining Tareen, Umar responded by asking, “What connection do I have with Jahangir Tareen?”
He also denied having been in contact with Tareen but mentioned staying in touch with Fawad Chaudhry, who resigned from the party last month.
Asad Qaiser, on the other hand, also distanced himself from Tareen while on his way to a court appearance in Islamabad regarding a case related to violence at the Federal Judicial Complex.
Qaiser responded “No” when asked by a reporter if he had any contact with Tareen. He affirmed that he was in touch with the PTI chairman and expressed his commitment to stand with the party.
On May 29, Jahangir Khan Tareen held a meeting with former PTI leader Aleem Khan, where the formation of a new political party was reportedly discussed.
Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, a PTI defector and former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, participated in the meeting and announced his intention to move forward with the Tareen group.
Nauman Langrial, another member of the dissident group, stated that serious consideration was being given to forming a new party, with the expectation of attracting significant figures who were ready to depart from PTI and its narrative.
As reports of defections from PTI continue to emerge, the Tareen group appears to be actively pursuing its own political aspirations, potentially setting the stage for a new political party in the near future.
