Jahangir Khan Tareen, a notable figure in Pakistani politics, is preparing to launch a new political party titled “Istehkam-e-Pakistan,” following a mass exodus from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
A number of former PTI leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail, and Ali Zaidi, are expected to join this new political venture.
Tareen, who faced a lifetime disqualification from holding public office by the Supreme Court, re-emerged on the political scene in the wake of the May 9 incident and its fallout. His resurgence was marked by an honorary dinner hosted by Aleem Khan, where over 100 leaders from across the country gathered to express their support.
The May 9 event saw PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest, sparking large-scale protests and attacks on significant military sites, such as the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and Lahore’s Corps Commander’s House, also known as the Jinnah House. Many PTI leaders were arrested and jailed, leading to widespread departure from the party.
Tareen saw an opportunity to restructure the political landscape in light of these resignations. According to sources, he is set to announce the launch of Istehkam-e-Pakistan today, at a local hotel in Lahore, with himself as the patron-in-chief.
Among the prominent attendees of the honorary dinner and expected new party members were former PTI leaders from Sindh, Mahmood Baqi Moulvi and Jai Parkash, as well as Murad Raas, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Muhammad Zaheer-ud-Din Khan Alizai, and many others. Several leaders had previously announced they were stepping away from politics, but they all expressed full confidence in Tareen at the dinner.
Interestingly, Tareen’s political resurrection can be traced back to the May 9 incident and its fallout. After Khan’s detention, his supporters took to the streets, sparking significant political upheaval, which created a conducive environment for Tareen’s new political venture. His new party, formed mostly of ex-PTI members, aims to leverage this political turbulence and fill the gap left by PTI’s mass resignations.