Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party chairman Jahangir Khan Tareen has decided to not only step down from the party chairmanship but also quit politics for good, reported 24NewsHd TV channel Monday.
Jahangir Tareen faced defeat in both constituencies of the National Assembly in the Feb 8 polls.
Tareen contested from NA-149 and NA-155 Lodhran-2 but was unable to clinch victory.
PML-N candidate Sadiqque Khan Baloch emerged victorious in NA-155 with 117,671 votes, while Tareen garnered only 71,128 votes.
Similarly, Tareen suffered defeat in NA-149 Multan where he secured 50,166 votes. PTI-backed independent candidate Malik Amir Dogar triumphed in NA-149 with 143,613 votes.
Jahangir Tareen's defeat in both constituencies marks a significant setback for his party and raises questions about his future political endeavours.
Out of sheer frustration in the wake of a humiliating defeat in the elections, Tareen announced his decision in a post on X while thanking everyone for their support during the recent election and felicitating his opponents.
"I have immense respect for the will of the people of Pakistan. Therefore, I have decided to resign from my position as Chairman IPP and step away from politics altogether," Tareen posted.
He expressed his gratitude to all the members of the party and wished them the best. "By the Grace of Allah, I will continue to serve my country to the best of my ability in a private capacity," the post added further.
The IPP leader had contested the recent general election from NA-149 Multan, where he was defeated by independent candidate Amir Dogar, as well as NA-155 Lodhran, where he lost to PML-N candidate Siddique Khan Baloch.
Reacting to this announcement, IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan expressed sadness, saying Tareen will always be the patron-in-chief for the IPP and all of them. He further said that Tareen's presence in any government was an honour for that government.
"As a younger brother and IPP president, I pay tribute to him and his philanthropic activities. May Allah bless them with health, safety and success. Amen," he added in a post on X.
Aleem Khan had emerged victorious in both NA-117 and Lahore’s provincial assembly constituency PP-149, securing a significant mandate from the electorate.
According to the official tally, in NA-117, Aleem Khan secured a resounding victory with 72,519 votes, establishing a clear lead over his competitor, Ali Ejaz Buttar, who garnered 31,586 votes.
Similarly, in PP-149, the IPP president clinched victory with 51,756 votes. His rival, independent candidate Hafiz Zeeshan Rasheed, closely followed with 47,998 votes.