Jahangir Tareen quits politics, Sirajul Haq steps down as party chief

Days after the country went to polls, uncertainty continued to loom large on Monday after two well-known political leaders, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) chief Jahangir Khan Tareen and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Siraj-ul-Haq, made shocking announcements of stepping down from party positions. Tareen also decided to "step away from politics altogether", while Siraj took responsibility for the party's significant drubbing in the February 8 national polls. In a post on X, Tareen said he would like to thank everyone who supported him in the elections and offered his congratulations to his political opponents over their victories. However, he added that he had "immense respect for the will of the people of Pakistan" and was therefore stepping down. I would like to thank everyone who supported me in this election and want to offer my congratulations to my 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… — Jahangir Khan Tareen (@JahangirKTareen) February 12, 2024 Similarly, the newly-formed IPP with its core of former PTI leaders, only managed to secure two seats in the National Assembly and only one from Punjab Assembly. Read Imran Khan’s loyalists triumph, betrayers bite the dust In a separate post on X, Siraj said, "I accept responsibility for the election defeat and have resigned from the post of party ameer." الیکشن میں شکست کی ذمہ داری قبول کرتے ہوئے جماعت اسلامی کی امارت سے استعفی دے دیا ہے۔ — Siraj ul Haq (@SirajOfficial) February 12, 2024 The resignation by the Jamaat chief comes after the party failed to secure any National Assembly seats and only secured three seats in the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies, one of which was vacated earlier today by JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. Hafiz Naeem vacates PS seat JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rahman has announced that he is forfeiting the PS-129 Sindh Assembly seat in favour of the PTI-backed candidate. Naeem had won from PS-129 Karachi Central VIII with 26,296 votes with PTI-backed independent candidate Saif Bari secured 11,357 votes. In a press conference, Naeem stated that PTI-backed candidate Saif Bari secured 11,357 votes and that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had altered the results. "I give up this seat," announced Naeem and added that "independent candidate Saif Bari won in a genuine manner, whose votes were reduced to 11,000 from 31,000”. PTI demands CEC's resignation The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, accusing him of dereliction of his constitutional and legal duties and playing the role of a facilitator in what it termed as 'poll fraud.' The PTI further insisted that not only should CEC Raja step down, but the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should also tender their resignations. It alleged that they colluded to strip PTI-backed candidates of the mandate bestowed upon them by the people in the February 8 general elections, marred by widespread reports of vote rigging.

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