LAHORE: In a significant political development, leaders and candidates from various political parties joined the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) in Lodhran on Thursday.

Jahangir Khan Tareen, the patron-in-chief of IPP, is contesting the election from the NA-155 (Lodhran) and NA-149 (Multan).

He has got the support of a notable Syed Arshad Shah Bukhari, the Pakistan People’s Party ticket-holder from PP-228, who withdrew his candidacy in Tareen’s favour and joined the IPP.

In another significant development, Malik Shaukat Ghallu, a former member of the district council and PML-N leader, also left his party to join the IPP.

Bukhari, the son of former MPA Akbar Ali Shah, was a candidate for PP-228 on a PPP ticket. Tareen welcomed Bukhari and Ghallu into the party fold by presenting them with the party muffler.

In his address to public meetings, Tareen expressed his vision for a new and stable Pakistan. Tareen, who was elected as a member of the national assembly and provincial assembly after contesting the election from Rahim Yar Khan with the support of Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood, said “I have decided to come to my native town Lodhran to contest the election not for myself but for the people of the area.”

He highlighted the completion of numerous development projects in Lodhran under his leadership and promised to double the efforts after achieving success.

He also announced plans to introduce a Sui gas project in Goggran on the demand of Mr Bukhari.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2024