PTI forward bloc in the offing?

Jahangir Tareen – a disgruntled leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a former confidant of party chairman Imran Khan – has become active once again amid a massive crackdown against the PTI leaders and workers with reports suggesting that he is busy in forming a forward bloc in the party.

According to sources, Tareen has met dozens of PTI lawmakers from Southern Punjab in the last few days. These lawmakers – mostly electable – had joined Imran’s party at the behest of Tareen, who is regarded as a very influential politician from south Punjab.

Since May 9 when angry protestors attacked state and military property in the wake of Imran Khan’s arrest from inside the Islamabad high court, over a dozen PTI leaders have left the party amid a heavy-handed crackdown.

The sources said Tareen has established his political office in Lahore, where he has met around two lawmakers in the last few days. They said Tareen is hoping to re-enter politics, expecting that his disqualification order will soon be overturned.

On December 17, 2017, the Supreme Court disqualified Tareen, then the PTI secretary general, declaring that he had proven dishonest under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution and Section 99 of Representation of People Act (ROPA) on one count among the multiple charges brought against him.

On September 27, 2018, the same SC bench rejected a review petition filed by Tareen.