Awn Chaudhry, the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Sports and Tourism, has confirmed that Jahangir Tareen is set to re-enter mainstream politics with his own party called “Istehkam-e-Pakistan,” according to a statement made to Geo News. Chaudhry, a close ally of Tareen, revealed that the former senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has finalized the name for his party. Tareen is expected to announce the name of his party during a press conference on Friday.
Tareen, who has been permanently disqualified from politics by the Supreme Court, has recently become active following the events of May 9 and the subsequent fallout. On that day, PTI Chairman Imran Khan was arrested, leading to protests and attacks on important military installations by his supporters. This resulted in the arrest and imprisonment of several PTI leaders, causing a mass exodus from the party.
Taking advantage of this situation, Tareen is reportedly planning to launch his new party, which comprises mainly defectors from the ruling PTI. The news of this development first emerged after a luncheon hosted in honour of Tareen and his aides at the residence of former PTI leader Aleem Khan.
Tareen previously held the position of secretary general in the PTI. Still, it was disqualified from politics in 2017 due to a Supreme Court ruling on a petition filed by PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi, accusing him of dishonesty. Despite his disqualification, Tareen remained associated with the PTI and played a crucial role in attracting independent lawmakers to join the party after the 2018 elections, which ultimately led to Imran Khan becoming the prime minister.
However, Tareen’s relationship with the PTI, as well as with Aleem Khan, turned sour after coming to power. In May 2022, Imran Khan revealed that his differences with both leaders stemmed from their alleged attempts to seek “illegal benefits” from him. Khan stated that Aleem Khan had expected him to legalize his land near Ravi, while Tareen had sided with individuals involved in corruption during the sugar scandal, leading to their strained relationship.
