Punjab witnessing grand political realignment

Over dozen PTI ticket holders join PPP; more than 60 establish contacts with Jehangir Tareen

LAHORE:

Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders are currently weighing option for a safe political future, as they establish contacts with the leading politicians and party leaders to find a place for them, it is learnt.

At least two-dozen PTI ticket holders met former president Asif Zardari and announced their joining of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). However, dozens others have reportedly contacted former PTI leader Jehangir Tareen to join his ranks.

A mass exodus from the PTI begin after the violent riots in the country after the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in a graft case on May 9. Several government buildings, including sensitive military installations were attacked in the riots.

Declaring the May 9 events as a ‘black day’, the authorities arrest several leaders and activists of the PTI. The government said that rioters, arsonists, looters and vandals, would be tried as per the law.

Read No respite for PTI leaders as crackdown continues

So far, many senior-most PTI leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, Asad Umar, Imran Ismail, Ali Zaidi, Amir Kiyani, Saifullah Nyazee, Fayyazul Hassan Chauhan, Musarrat Jamshed Cheema, have parted their ways with Imran.

Asif Ali Zardari held a political meeting at Bilawal House in Lahore. More than 20 politicians of Tehreek-e-Insaf from South Punjab joined the People's Party. pic.twitter.com/tgf2w1lSsR

— Majid_Ali_Mughal 🔺 (@MajidMughal01) May 31, 2023

Besides a number of people, who were awarded PTI tickets for Punjab Assembly elections, also quit the party and returned their tickets, condemning the May 9 violence and attacks on military installations.

Simultaneously, several politicians also became active to benefit from this realigning of the new political dynamics. The foremost among them is Tareen, a former close confidant of Imran, and now a staunch adversary.

Also, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari reached Lahore the other day. Party sources said that he was expected to stay in the Punjab capital for many days for political activities. Zardari also met with several PTI ticket holders and welcomed them in the party-fold.

It has been stated that Jehangir Tareen was forming his own political party amid speculations that those quitting the PTI would join him. According to sources close to Tareen, he was expected to announce the new party in a day or two.

The sources said that more than 60 lawmakers and the top PTI leaders, have contacted the Tareen so far. Some of them, including Firdous Ashiq Awan and Zargul Khan, have held a meeting with him.

Also read Imran moves SC against 'undeclared martial law'

Besides, they added, opposition leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz, former PTI Sindh President Amir Bakhsh Bhutto, Salman Naeem were among those having established contacts with Tareen.

“Jahangir Tareen has completed consultation on the name of the new political party after contacting the PTI leaders and he will come up with a new party in the next 24 hours in which PTI members will be formed,” a source close to the development said.

Meanwhile, senior PPP leader and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani along with other party leaders and the new members called on Zardari at Bilawal House in Lahore on Wednesday.

Those who joined the PPP, include former National Assembly member Qutb Fareed Koreja, Raees Akmal Waran, Sardar Shamsher Mazari, Syed Qasim Ali Shamsi, Fareeha Batol, Abdul Aziz Kalanak, Rasool Bakhsh Jatoi, Pir Jafar Muzamal Shah, Sardar Allah Wasaya, Muhammad Alamdar Abbas Qureshi, Malik Abdul Ghaffar Arain, Yas Atta Qureshi, Syed Jameel Shah, Syed Rashid Shah, Sheikh Dilshad Ahmed, Bilal Mustafa, Syed Tahsin Nawaz, Mian Ali Haider Wattoo, Mian Salman Ayub, Mian Ameer Haider Wattoo, Ayaz Khan, Amjad Khan Niazi, Muzamil Khan, Umar Masood Farooqui and others.

Taking to the media persons after the meeting, Gilani reiterated the party stance of a political dialogue to rid the country of its current problems. He saying categorically that the PPP did not favour a minus-someone scenario.

“Talks are the only solution to the problems of the country,” Gilani told reporters. “Even in the previous negotiations, the PTI was told that dissolving the provincial assemblies was a mistake and being stuck to the stance of election on May 14 is also a mistake.”

He stressed that that PPP was not in favour of minus-anyone, rather it favoured negotiations. When asked about the PPP’s stand on the general elections, he said: “Whatever happens, it must happen in accordance with the Constitution.”

Gilani told the media persons that attacks on military installation was tantamount to the attack on the country itself. He called for abolishing the militant wings of the political parties.

When asked if more PTI deserters could join the PPP, the former prime minister said that the party would take its decision after the background check of the aspirants. “The PPP is democratic party,” he said.