Lahore (Web Desk): Senior politician and former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen on Thursday officially announced formation of a new political party, the 'Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party' (IPP).
Tareen made the announcement during a press conference in Lahore along with former PTI leaders including Aleem Khan, Imran Ismail and others.
“We have gathered at one platform to make joint efforts to lift the country out of this quagmire,” he said, adding that the country needed a political leadership which could resolve all prevailing issues including social, economic and others.
Tareen said that today, our nation needs hope the most so this country could achieve its true potential.
"No one can be allowed to attack state institutions in shape of mobs. It is not just about attacking institutions but most importantly people are losing hope.”
Tareen said May 9 vandalism was not just about a “mob attacking public properties.
“This was setting an example of a mob attacking anyone’s house and harassing our families.”
No society could allow this, he asserted. “We cannot let this situation escalate further.”
“We have to make a Pakistan where establishment, judiciary, political forces and all stakeholders are on the same page. We all want to take Pakistan towards prosperity,” he added.
“Today, we need to change how politics is conducted in our country. It needs a new direction. We will make joint efforts to achieve that, he said.”
Tareen, who is a former close aide of Imran Khan played a major in the formation of the PTI, led government in 2018, said that he joined politics to play his role for the betterment of the country.
“We worked day and night to strengthen the party [PTI]. We injected zeal and fervour into the party. The facts will be disclosed in the coming days about our contributions to the PTI,” he added.
Addressing the presser prior to Tareen, Aleem Khan said the need was felt after May 9 for those who had distanced themselves from politics to come together and it was then decided to form a new party.
He credited Jahangir Tareen, who he said would lead the party, for bringing them together on one platform.
Aleem Khan also mentioned that they aimed to turn Pakistan into a country in which the people, Parliament, judiciary and establishment were on one page.
A day earlier, nearly 100 former PTI members of the national and provincial assemblies joined the new party, expressing confidence in Tareen’s leadership.
Several former key players of the PTI have decided to join the new political party formed by the former ruling party's disgruntled leader and sugar baron, Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT).
Those who annouced join the party include former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, ex-shipping minister Ali Zaidi, former federal minister Amir Kayani, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Mahmood Maulvi, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Murad Raas and Jai Parkash.
Former adviser to Punjab CM Ali Gilani, ex-lawmakers Mumtaz Mahrvi, Azmat Chishti and Mehr Irshad Kathia, and former PTI leaders retired Maj Khurram Rokhari and Usman Ashraf also met Tareen and joined his group.
Moreover, GG Jamal from erstwhile Fata, Ajmal Parvez, Nauman Langrial from Punjab and Naurez Shakoor also joined the new party.
Former adviser to Punjab chief minister for auqaf and religious affairs Syed Rafakat Ali Gillani also joined Tareen's party.
Ex-MPA from Chishtian Mumtaz Mehrvi also announced joining Istehkam-e-Pakistan.
Similarly, former MPA from Sahiwal, Mehr Irshad Kathia, Mian Usman Ashraf from Nankana Sahib, and Major (retd) Khurram Rokhiri from Mianwali decided to join the new party.
Several leaders of the PTI had parted ways with the party after the government held Imran Khan responsible for the riots that broke out across the country following his arrest in a graft case on May 9.
Later, Multiple PTI leaders were arrested under Maintenance of Public Order laws and jailed which led to a mass exodus of PTI leaders.