Insiders: Scores of PTI leaders ready to join IPP

ISLAMABAD: The newly established Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) is in contact with around 50 former elected members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and is trying hard to bring them into its fold before the upcoming general elections.

IPP insiders told Hum News English that “The leadership of IPP has made contacts with former elected members of PTI belonging to different areas of South Punjab including Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Rajanpur, Jampur, Kot Addu and Taunsa Sharif.”

“Most of these individuals are former members of the National Assembly (NA) who are uncertain about the future of their party. If many of them agree to IPP then the party will hold a public gathering in Multan where all of them will announce the decision,” sources said.

Interestingly, these individuals are also facing corruption cases and they have talked to Jahangir Khan Tareen and Aleem Khan about their legal problems, the sources claimed while adding, “some of them are also sure that PTI would not give them party tickets in general elections due to their complete absence in party’s political activities long before May 9.”

Sources told HUM News English that its leadership was awaiting conviction and arrest of Chairman PTI and now that that has happened, it is ready to reach out to the masses, especially in South Punjab.

IPP leader Ishaq Khan Khakwani said “We are sorting out modalities and preparing a strong structure of the party at grassroots. Our party will start active politics in the coming days and will focus on the woes of the common people like price hike and other economic problems.”

Electables

To a question, he said “Imran Ismael, Ali Zaidi and Fawad Chaudhry are not electables and they are also not active in our party. But we will not force anyone because everyone has their own plans.”

IPP spokesman Fayyazul Hasan Chohan told HUM News English that “we are in contact with a large number of former elected members of PTI who just want to secure their future in politics. But we are not in a hurry so our party is moving ahead with a roadmap and all these electables will join us in the coming weeks.”

Answering a question, he said “Jahangir Khan Tareen and Aleem Khan know the dynamics of politics and have close relations with big political families in Punjab. Unlike Chairman PTI, who habitually throws his close friends under the bus, these leaders always stand by friends in difficult times.”