LAHORE – Even though Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Jahangir Tareen has stepped down as secretary general following his disqualification by the Supreme Court, he is still contributing to the cause of Imran Khan – ‘Naya Pakistan’ – with his plane.
PTI’s Central Additonal Secretary Faisal Javed Khan, in a tweet on Sunday, shared the ‘silent services’ of Mr. Tareen:
@JahangirKTareen didn’t come to Okara Jalsa but his plane did. See how is he still contributing for the cause of Naya Pakistan. Bless him pic.twitter.com/o0VeiX4WBa
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) December 17, 2017
The pictures shared by the PTI leader show the party chairman boarding the plane provided by Jahangir Tareen – one of the wealthiest lawmakers in Pakistan – before he flew to Okara where he addressed a mammoth public gathering of his supporters.
The PTI chief hailed Jehangir Tareen, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court, saying that he was disqualified on a minor technicality and was not involved in any irregularities.
A day after being disqualified by the Supreme Court, Jahangir Tareen resigned Saturday as the general secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
“I have resigned as SG [secretary general] of PTI. Will remain part of the struggle,” said Tareen as he announced his resignation on Twitter. “Hoping to see Imran Khan as Pakistan’s next PM.”
I have resigned as SG of Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf . Will remain part of the struggle. Hoping to see Imran Khan as Pakistan’s next PM , IA pic.twitter.com/mqgoFevRFN
— Jahangir Khan Tareen (@JahangirKTareen) December 16, 2017
As expected, Khan’s tweet invited a storm on the social networking site with a number of people criticising the PTI leadership.
Here are some of the comments (not to mention those full of abusive language):
It means the Atm is still working ??
— Mubashir Hashmi (@Mubashir_Hashmi) December 17, 2017
Why was it necessary for you to tweet this? ??♀️
— Saima (@DaLondonGirl) December 17, 2017
ایک اہل شخص ۔۔ ایک نا اہل شخص کا جہاز استعمال کرتے ہوئے
— Mansoor Ali (@mahiwalkhan) December 17, 2017
مگر خان صاحب کہتے ہیں سویڈن کا وزیراعظم سائیکل پر افس جاتا ہے!
— Syed Wiqas Shah (@waqasshPAK) December 17, 2017
There were also a few who showed support to the former PTI secretary general:
Pl Tareen sab come back soon in party….PTI is incomplete without you….i mean it ?
— Faiza Khan (@faizagulkhan) December 17, 2017
Long live Jahangir Khan Tareen Sir ? May Allah resume him in Politics again. Ameen!
— Yasir Iqbal Khan (@YaSiR___kHaN) December 17, 2017
Jahangir Tareen – one of Pakistan’s wealthiest lawmakers
Tareen had started his political career in 2002 after being elected to the National Assembly on a PML-Q ticket.
In 2004, Tareen was inducted into the federal cabinet and served as a minister with the portfolio of industries, production and special initiatives under former president Pervez Musharraf.
In the 2008 elections, Tareen was re-elected as the member of the National Assembly for the second time from NA-195 (Rahim Yar Khan – IV).
In late 2011, Tareen joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), saying that his vision was similar to that of PTI chief Imran Khan’s.
Two years later, Tareen contested – and lost – the 2013 general elections from a seat in Lodhran district. However, after the Supreme Court annulled the results of the elections citing irregularities, Tareen defeated his opponent by a margin of over 35,000 votes in by-polls held for the same seat.
One of the wealthiest men in politics, owning thousands of acres of farmland, a private plane and running some of the largest sugar mills in the country, Tareen is known to fund many of the protests and anti-government rallies held by the PTI, during which he is often seen standing beside Khan.
