LAHORE: The newly-formed Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) has launched its publicity and membership campaign as Jehangir Khan Tareen, the founder of the new outfit, reaches here from London after a medical check-up there.

Flags and banners of IPP have been hoisted along main Lahore arteries like Jail Road, Gulberg’s main boulevard and Ferozepur Road.

As former parliamentarians of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf are dissociating themselves from the Imran Khan-led party since the May 9 attacks by PTI men on military establishments and joining the IPP, the new party has also begun establishing its lower cadre by formally launching a membership campaign and approaching various social and business people for their support.

Mr Tareen had fallen into political oblivion since his disqualification for life to run for any public office by a Supreme Court verdict back in December 2017 that was seen as a balancing act: Then ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s prime minister Nawaz Sharif had been disqualified under the same law a few months before.

However, Tareen remained part of PTI and was crucial in wooing independent lawmakers to join the party after the 2018 elections. The efforts helped Imran Khan to secure the coveted office of prime minister.

But the relations of Tareen and Aleem Khan, another PTI leader, with the PTI turned sour as Imran alleged, a month after losing the office of prime minister in a no-trust motion, in May 2022 that the duo was seeking “illegal benefits from him.”

During the no-trust move, a group of PTI dissidents, including now opposition leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz, emerged that supported Tareen.

The rumours of Tareen forming a new party have been rife since last year when he had been instrumental in helping the PML-N install Hamza Shehbaz as the Punjab chief minister. Hamza was, however, removed through an apex court order paving the way for then Punjab Assembly speaker Parvez Elahi to claim the post.

In March, there were reports that a splinter group named “Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Nazriyati” would be formed to contest the upcoming elections. The proposal was put forth during an Iftar dinner, which was attended by several PTI dissidents.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2023