Estranged leader of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Jahangir Tareen has said that it was an undeniable fact that he had served the party tirelessly and in good faith for more than a decade, lamenting the deepening of rift within the party.
“Distancing myself from the party’s establishment was an exacting decision but I was compelled to do so. It was a great test for me but I resisted and in turn, Allah made me happy,” Tareen said at a dinner hosted in honour of ‘estranged’ members on Sunday night as feud within the party countinues.
Tareen expressed gratitude to the fellows for backing him and defying the pressure to stop lobbying for him. He also thanked the workers who reached Lahore to show solidarity with him while he was facing the FIA cases.
He lauded the party workers for refusing to relent and abandon him.
“The people of Lodhran love me and I love them too. I will go to greater lengths to fulfil their hopes and expectations from me,” he remarked.
The dinner comes amid reports that the Tareen group was planning to give a tough time to the party’s main leadership. The members of the faction are expected to hold a “crucial” meeting soon after Tareen’s return from Lodhran to deliberate upon the future course of action of the group. Among the multiple strategies under the consideration is the option of turning in mass resignations.
Earlier, Tareen held separate meetings with each worker to discuss their problems and assured them of immediate solutions. The women’s wing members also met him.
MPA and Parliamentary Secretary Nazir Khan Baloch said that the people of Lodhran considered themselves incomplete without the leadership of Tareen. “The whole district stands with Tareen and we are always ready to sacrifice our lives for him.”
Former MPA Rana Ijaz Ahmad Noon, District General Secretary PTI Rana Arsalan Khan, Chairman Ushr and Zakat Committee Sardar Irshad Abbas Ghalo, senior leaders Tahir Amir Ghauri, Hafiz Siddique Arain, Mehr Ashraf Sial, Malik Mumtaz Joya, Sheikh Munawar Nadeem and Ashiq Khan Baloch Advocate also addressed the gathering and expressed solidarity with Tareen.
Former MNAs Nawab Qasim Malezai and Chaudhry Nawaz Warraich also met Tareen at his residence and discussed the political situation.
