‘No meeting with Tareen so far,’: Pervez Khattak denies joining IPP

Peshawar: In response to recent reports about his involvement in Jahangir Tareen's new political venture, Pervez Khattak, the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, said that he had not met the chief of the Istihkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).

“No meeting with Tareen so far. At this time, I prefer not to comment on any political matters,” said the former Defence Minister. 

According to the latest reports,  Khattak emphasized that Tareen's party had not offered him the position of secretary general, nor had he accepted any such offer. He assured that he was currently focused on his existing responsibilities and in touch with his colleagues in the province.

Earlier in the day, the speculations emerged that Khattak would be appointed as the secretary general of the newly-established IPP.

This development follows Khattak's announcement two weeks ago that he was stepping down as the president of PTI's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter. However, an aide of the PTI chief dismissed rumors of Khattak leaving the party and labeled them as "propaganda."

Jahangir Tareen, once a close aide of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and instrumental in the party's rise to power in 2018, officially launched his new party on Thursday, expressing his commitment to contribute to the betterment of the country through politics.

It is worth noting that Tareen and Khattak are not the only former PTI members who have joined the IPP. Several other PTI defectors, who distanced themselves from Imran Khan following the events of May 9, have united with Tareen in his new political venture.

The departure of prominent PTI leaders and their subsequent association with the IPP has caused a significant shift in the political landscape. Many of these individuals, in their press conferences, announced their departure from politics alongside their decision to leave the PTI.

Notable figures who have joined the IPP include Fawad Chaudhry, Ali Zaidi, Imran Ismail, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Aamer Mehmood Kiani, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, Mahmood Baqi Maulvi, Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan, and Murad Raas.

The events of May 9, which led to the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, sparked widespread protests across the country. During the unrest, important military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and the Lahore Corps Commander's residence, were attacked and vandalized.