IPP’s Jahangir Tareen vows to work under his ‘leader’ Nawaz Sharif after polls

MULTAN: As electioneering picks up pace with political parties forming alliances in their bid to strengthen their positions ahead of the February 8 polls, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) chief Jahangir Tareen Sunday said that he looks forward to working with his “leader” Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Geo News reported.

“I will work with Nawaz Sharif as he will be our leader once the government is formed [after the polls],” Tareen said while addressing a political gathering in Multan — from where he’s contesting on the NA-155 constituency.

Tareen, a former close aide of former PM Imran Khan and played a major role in the formation of the PTI government in 2018, had parted ways with Khan after a money laundering was registered against him during the PTI government.

Since the launch of the party, a large number of now-former PTI leaders including Murad Raas, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Farrukh Habib, Ali Nawaz Awan, Andleeb Abbas and others have joined Tareen’s ranks.

Ironically, since its launch, the Tareen-led IPP has been in talks with the PMLN, a staunch opponent of Tareen’s former party PTI, over seat adjustment prospects in the upcoming general elections.

Though there has been some back and forth between the two as there was some resistance in some elements of the PML-N regarding seat adjustment, the former ruling party has abstained from contesting in five National Assembly and 11 Punjab Assembly constituencies owing to its agreement with the IPP.

Elaborating on his political agenda if voted into power, Tareen reaffirmed that his party would work on improving economic indicators to address unemployment as well as increase the salaries of those who are already employed.

“Whether it be ‘eagle’ or ‘lion,’ we have to work together for the betterment of the country’s economy,” the IPP patron-in-chief said referring to the electoral symbols of IPP and PML-N, respectively.

He added that everyone would benefit from a stable economy. “The country will develop [and prosper] under Nawaz’s leadership [and] hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created,” he added if the party triumphs on February 8.