LAHORE: Imran Khan’s PTI misplaced another wicket, this time a former member of the National Assembly from Punjab and get together’s ladies wing president Munazza Hassan who joined Istehkham-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) and made the choice public at a joint presser with IPP patron and former confidant of the PTI chairman, Jahangir Khan Tareen, on Friday.

About PTI’s future, Mr Tareen stated: “It will likely be untimely to say whether or not the PTI will likely be in elections or not. Certain issues are being labored out in this regard and they’re going to come to the fore very quickly.”

Some senior leaders of PML-N, together with former opposition chief Raja Riaz, believed PTI’s election image, bat, wouldn’t be on the poll papers in upcoming elections.

Mr Tareen, through the press convention, tried to dispel the impression that his get together was ‘king’s get together’.

Munazza Hassan joins Istehkham-i-Pakistan Party

“The institution doesn’t intervene in politics. We don’t want the help of the institution however the individuals,” he stated in reply to a query whether or not the navy institution would assist the IPP win seats in polls. He, nevertheless, sounded assured relating to the polls happening in January 2024. “Elections are indispensable for Pakistan and its economic system. I’m certain elections will likely be held and new authorities will stay in energy for 5 years,” he stated.

Disqualification

Responding to a query about his life-time disqualification, he stated he was eligible to contest polls as he was disqualified “just for an election time period of 5 years”.

“The restrict of disqualification of [PML-N supreme leader] Nawaz Sharif and mine was that of 5 years which have been accomplished,” he asserted.

So far, he added, his get together didn’t have any grievance towards the ECP about degree enjoying area, however the IPP needed that it needs to be equal for all political gamers.

While the IPP has but to be registered with the ECP regardless of being the brand new residence of most PTI deserters, Mr Tareen stated his get together was doing homework and would contest election “with full preparations”.

Asked for causes to half methods with Mr Khan, Mr Tareen stated: “I acquired together with Imran Khan as a result of he was working for Pakistan. Now my get together will meet the expectations which the individuals had from him.”

The IPP management says it has an agenda to present a brand new route to politics and take the nation ahead with a powerful economic system.

Since his get together additionally has an ‘glorious relationship’ with the Sharifs, Mr Tareen has but to elucidate which get together will likely be its rival in Punjab.

Meanwhile, he requested Mr Nawaz to not goal former military chief (Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa) and chief justice of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, September 23th, 2023