Jahangir Khan Tareen, who once used to be a close aide of the PTI chief, has launched a new party, the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP).<\/p>\n
He made the announcement during a press conference in Lahore on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Seen alongside him were Aleem Khan and several PTI defectors, including Imran Ismail and Tanveer Ilyas, who recently left the party amid a state crackdown on it.<\/p>\n
Tareen said on the occasion that the country was witnessing \u201cdelicate times\u201d.<\/p>\n
Elaborating on the need to form a new party, he said he had joined politics for just one purpose \u2014 to contribute to the country\u2019s progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring my long journey in politics, I got the opportunity to meet and work with several people. I learned a lot from this experience,\u201d he said, adding that he was never a \u201ctraditional politician\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said he had joined the PTI as he was certain that through the party\u2019s platform, \u201cwe will be able to implement all those reforms that Pakistan needed and still need\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd for this reason, we worked day and night to make the PTI a full-fledged political force. People you see sitting here today, all of them were a part of this struggle,\u201d he added. \u201cWe infused the party with newfound passion and enthusiasm after the 2013 elections.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tareen said \u201cseveral facts\u201d would surface in the coming days which would show \u201cto what extent we went to make the party stable\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ensure that PTI turns into such a political force that it does not just win whenever elections are held but it also is in a position to initiate reforms in the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Tareen said reforms were the PTI\u2019s basic manifesto, \u201cdue to which we all had come together\u201d.<\/p>\n
But, he added, \u201cunfortunately \u2026 matter did go the way we expected and people were disheartened\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said the PTI\u2019s manifesto was to improve the economy and relations with other countries and most importantly, ensure accountability.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were the slogans on the basis of which the party was formed and people voted for the PTI,\u201d he said, regretting that these objectives could not be achieved.<\/p>\n
Tareen said the events of May had changed the politics of Pakistan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am saying this from the bottom of my heart that if the miscreants and planners of May 9 are not brought to justice, attacks on houses of political rivals will also be considered acceptable.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we will never let this happen,\u201d he vowed.<\/p>\n
Tareen said May 9 vandalism was not just about a \u201cmob attacking public properties.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was setting an example of a mob attacking anyone\u2019s house and harassing our families.\u201d<\/p>\n
No society could allow this, he asserted. \u201cWe cannot let this situation escalate further.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cSo we have gathered here today. We will collectively try to steer Pakistan \u2026 out of the quagmire. Our country needs this today. We will together heal the wounds inflicted on Pakistan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tareen said Pakistan presently needed a leadership that would end political and social divisions and promote unity and tolerance.<\/p>\n
This country \u201cneeds a leadership that can give this nation a narrative of hope\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this time, what our nation needs the most is the hope that its situation will improve and it will reach a new height,\u201d he said, adding that this was the reason the foundation of the new IPP party was being laid down today. \u201cOur objective is very clear.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said all those present alongside him wanted Pakistan to progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all realise, and agree, that our politics need a new direction. We also realise that our democratic system can only strengthen if the government and opposition both understand and abide by their constitutional responsibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said more people would join the IPP in the coming days, \u201cthose who are respected in their constituencies\u201d.<\/p>\n
Tareen also announced that his party\u2019s \u201creforms agenda\u201d would be revealed in the coming days. \u201cWe will try that through our voters\u2019 mandate, we introduce political, social and economic reforms.\u201d<\/p>\n
Outlining his party\u2019s objectives, he said they aimed to increase exports, improve the IT sector and strengthen the farmers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose of this party is to represent the aspirations of the youth. We will also protect the rights of women and minorities \u2026 and become voice of the voiceless,\u201d he vowed.<\/p>\n
Prior to him, 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.<\/p>\n
He credited Tareen, who he said would lead the IPP, for bringing them together on one platform.<\/p>\n
Khan also mentioned that they aimed to turn Pakistan into a country in which the people, Parliament, judiciary and establishment were on one page.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jahangir Khan Tareen, who once used to be a close aide of the PTI chief, has launched a new party, the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP). He made the announcement during a press conference in Lahore on Thursday. Seen alongside him were Aleem Khan and several PTI defectors, including Imran Ismail and Tanveer Ilyas, who recently left […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":336296,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-336287","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n