Daily Times

Jahangir Khan Tareen, the chairman of the newly-formed Ishtehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), on Sunday refuted the impression that the military establishment was favouring the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and his own party ahead of the general elections.

Tareen emphasised that only Pakistan was the establishment’s ladla (darling), as it only desired the country’s well-being. He expressed these remarks while responding to a journalist’s query ahead of his address during the party’s rally in Punjab’s Kamoke. Addressing the gathering, Tareen underscored the importance of collective efforts to uplift the nation. He outlined IPP’s commitment to constructing government hospitals that would not only attract international attention but also elevate healthcare standards, aiming to position Pakistan as an exemplary agricultural nation globally.

The IPP leader was of the view that the transformation of Pakistan was linked with change in the lives of the people. “The country will not move forward until poverty is eradicated.” He vowed to bring improvement in the education, health, industry and agriculture sectors. The IPP stalwart also said they would fulfil their promises made to the public if his party won the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, Abdul Aleem Khan, the president of the IPP, took the opportunity to criticise former chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Usman Buzdar and Mahood Khan. He alleged that both were incompetent and indulged in corrupt practices during their tenures. “In Punjab, Usman Buzdar created a ‘corruption market’ with the support of Bani Gala, and bad governance caused people’s hearts to break,” accused Aleem.

He lamented the state of the country, stating that thieves and looters have devoured it. He regretted the dire situation in Sindh where he claimed that both dogs and humans drink water from the same river in some areas.

He acknowledged the military’s support for the PTI in the past and criticised the current criticism directed towards them by the former ruling party.

The party president stressed that the strength of the country today was a result of the sacrifices made by the army soldiers at the borders.

Aleem outlined measures if his party came to power, including doubling the price of electricity for the elite, providing free electricity up to 300 units for the poor, offering farmers free electricity for tube wells, providing motorcyclists with petrol at half price, and extending interest-free loans to the youth.