Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen has officially announced the formation of his political party called the Istihkam-e-Pakistan Party during a press conference on Thursday.
He was flanked by other former PTI leaders including Aleem Khan, Imran Ismail and many other defectors.
Expressing his intention to contribute to the betterment of the country, Tareen said all of them gathered at one platform to make joint efforts for steering the country out of current crises.
Tareen’s departure from PTI came after he faced money laundering allegations during the PTI-led government. Previously, Tareen played a significant role in the formation of the PTI government in 2018 and worked closely with PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
However, Tareen stated that further details about his contributions to the PTI would be disclosed in the future.
In 2017, Tareen was disqualified for life by the Supreme Court after being found guilty in an assets beyond means case.
During the press conference, Tareen also emphasized the need to hold accountable those responsible for the May 9 vandalism incident, warning of potential attacks on the homes of political opponents if culprits were not brought to justice.
He said the May 9 tragedy transformed the political landscape of the country.
Tareen highlighted the urgent need for new political leadership and expressed that people had lost hope in the current political system.
He urged the government and opposition to fulfill their constitutional roles to strengthen democracy. Tareen mentioned that more individuals would be joining their party in the future and that their reform agenda would be revealed soon.
Aleem Khan, who spoke at the press conference, expressed concern about the current situation in the country and thanked Tareen for uniting the leaders. He emphasized the importance of stabilizing Pakistan, stating, “We need to make a stable Pakistan in which parliament, judiciary, and establishment are on the same page.”
Prior to the official announcement of the new party, several former senior PTI leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail, and Ali Zaidi, reportedly joined or expressed their intention to join Tareen’s ranks.
Tareen made progress in attracting PTI defectors, with over 100 leaders attending a dinner hosted by Aleem Khan in their honor.
