On Wednesday, Jahangir Tareen, the founder and patron-in-chief of Istihkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), officially declared Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan as the party’s central secretary information.
Tareen tweeted his enthusiasm about Awan’s appointment: “I am pleased to announce Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan as Central Secretary Information of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party.” This role signifies a step up for Awan, who was recently designated as one of the party’s official spokespersons alongside Ishaq Khan Khakwani, Nauman Ahmad Langrial, Saeed Akbar Khan Nawani, Fayyaz Ul Hassan Chohan, Dr. Murad Raas, and Maj (retd) Khurram Hameed Rokhri.
The naming of these spokespersons coincided with the day Tareen appointed his trusted aide, Abdul Aleem Khan, as the president of his newly-established party—a haven for many defectors from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Tareen, once a close ally of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and a prominent sugar industry figure, used his Twitter account to announce the defections of PTI members Aamir Mehmood Kiyani and Awn Chaudhary to IPP. They were appointed as secretary general and additional secretary general, respectively, with Chaudhary also taking on the role of party spokesperson.
Asserting the country’s need for political leadership to address ongoing issues, including socio-economic ones, he said, “We have gathered at one platform to make joint efforts to lift the country out of this quagmire.”
Despite this, the veteran leader expressed optimism that more politicians will align with the IPP. He promised the party would mitigate the nation’s economic difficulties and internal divisions.