LAHORE: A group of politicians, mostly belonging to the south Punjab, are mulling forming a political entity to be led by former minister, Jahangir Khan Tareen to woo the disgruntled Members National Assembly (MNAs), and former Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) Punjab, who were disqualified after they voted for the PML-N candidate in the chief minister’s election in 2022, according to the sources privy to the development.
They said on Monday the group held a meeting to set up even a parallel Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf to contain ousted prime minister Imran Khan’s party ahead of the next general elections. Former PTI leaders, who defected from the party, have proposed forming a new political party named Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Nazriyati) (PTIN) or Haqeeqi Tehreek-e-Insaaf to contest the upcoming elections.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz, Nauman Langrial, PM’s aide Aun Chaudhry, Ajmal Cheema, and Ishaq Khaqwani were among the participants of the meeting. The members of the Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT) Group discussed the proposal during an Iftar dinner attended by several members of the dissident PTI group and leaders including Raja Riaz and Awn Chaudhry here on Monday.
Furthermore, the bloc also plans holding discussions in the future and considering alliance with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). According to the sources, the JKT group is becoming increasingly active in politics and plans to contact more former PTI members and leaders to join their group.
Jahangir Khan Tareen was once a close confidant of IK
Jahangir Khan Tareen was once a close confidant of Imran Khan but formed his group within the PTI towards the end of Khan’s government in the centre. MNA Raja Riaz currently leads the opposition in the National Assembly on behalf of the PTI dissidents.
According to the sources, majority of the Tareen group suggested forming an independent group or a party named Haqeeqi Tehreek-e-Insaaf rather than contesting the next elections on PML-N tickets. It is to mention here that PML-N has already refused to grant party tickets to the PTI dissidents in the upcoming general elections while no other party seems willing to accommodate the JKT group when it comes to general elections.
It is likely that the group would contest the polls independently or under the banner of a new party to be headed by Jehangir Khan Tareen. Some members present in the Lahore meeting suggested contesting elections on the ticket of PML-N as still, it is a party with strong roots in Punjab. Jahangir Tareen was empowered to make any decision in this regard, according to the sources.
The local media reported on Tuesday that the Tareen group has been given a go-ahead to focus on breaking the Imran-led PTI, especially in the wake of the possible disqualification of Imran Khan in any of the cases pending against him.
The sources said that ‘Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Nazriati’, was already registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan and it was likely that the Tareen group might use this proposed platform to get the job done. Insider said breakaway elements could be accommodated in the ECP-registered ‘PTI Nazriati’. As per the Commission’s website, Sheikhupura-based Akhtar Iqbal Dar is the chairman of PTI Nazriati.
A recent meeting between Jahangir Khan Tareen and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani should also be seen in this context, said the sources adding that the huddle pertained to the future of the PTI after its chairman’s disqualification, which the participants of the meeting thought to be imminent. A parallel platform would have all the support of the powers that be to dent the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the source claimed.
The sources claimed that although the PML-N had refused to allot tickets to these ‘electables’ for the next general elections, even then they are fully onboard and extend full support to the Tareen group in its ‘new assignment’.
