Jahangir Khan Tareen, former senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Wednesday formally re-entered into mainstream politics by announcing formation his party “Istihkam-e-Pakistan”.
A large number of PTI defectors had joined the party at a dinner hosted by Aleem Khan at his residence in Lahore.
Former governor of Sindh Imran Ismail along with other PTI’s defectors Ali Haider Zaidi, Fidous Ashiq Awan, Murad Raas Fayyazul Hasan Chohan, Hashim Dogar, Jay Prakash, and Aamir Kiani were among the new members.
Earlier in the evening, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Sports and Tourism Awn Chaudhry confirmed in a talk show that Jahangir Tareen would launch his own party called “Istehkam-e-Pakistan.”
The formal announcement of the party’s name is expected to be made during a press conference scheduled for Friday.
Tareen, who was permanently disqualified from politics by the Supreme Court, has recently become active following the turmoil that ensued after the May 9 mayhem. On that day, PTI Chairman Imran Khan was arrested, resulting in his supporters taking to the streets and attacking military installations, including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and the Lahore Corps Commander’s House.
The fallout from these events led to the arrest and imprisonment of several PTI leaders under Maintenance of Public Order laws and triggered a mass exodus of party members. Capitalizing on this exodus, Tareen is reportedly preparing to unveil his new party, which is expected to consist primarily of defectors from the ruling party.
The news of Tareen’s plans first surfaced after a luncheon was hosted in his honor at the residence of former PTI leader Aleem Khan. Tareen, who previously served as the PTI’s secretary general, was disqualified from politics in 2017 by the Supreme Court on the grounds of being “dishonest,” based on a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi.
Despite his disqualification, Tareen remained involved with the PTI and played a crucial role in attracting independent lawmakers to join the party after the 2018 elections, contributing to Imran Khan securing the prime ministership. However, relations between Tareen, Aleem Khan, and the PTI deteriorated over time.
In May 2022, Khan publicly revealed the reasons behind his differences with both leaders, stating that they had sought “illegal benefits” from him. Khan disclosed that Aleem Khan expected him to facilitate the legalization of a 300-acre land near the Ravi River, while Tareen stood with individuals involved in the sugar scandal. Khan’s decision to initiate a probe into the sugar scandal further strained his relationship with Tareen.
