LAHORE: Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) patron-in-chief Jahangir Khan Tareen on Monday launched a vigorous election campaign in NA-155, Lodhran.

He held a meeting with the candidates for PP-228, Nadir Khan Baloch, and PP-227, Mehr Ashraf Sial, to discuss the ongoing election campaign in the national and provincial assembly constituencies.

Mr Tareen expressed his determination to run the campaign at full throttle and also assured party leaders and workers that the development projects halted due to political opposition would be completed.

He emphasised the party’s solid plans for youth employment, strengthening the economy, controlling inflation, and supporting agriculture.

PTI old guards enter IPP folds

Mr Tareen also pledged to eradicate regional deprivations by making south Punjab a province and stressed the need for collective work to ensure public happiness.

He warned that division in the country would lead to division among the people.

Several party office-bearers and workers, including Sardar Arshad Abbas Ghalloo, Syed Raza Shah Gilani, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Malik Mumtaz Joiya, Sheikh Muhammad Aslam, Sheikh Manoor, Rao Imran, Rana Waqar Akram, Nawab Ghulloo and Ejaz Targar Masood Gujjar were also present.

Earlier, PTI south Punjab joint secretary and former chairman UC-35 Multan Salimullah Khan Baloch along with his vice chairman, councillors, and other colleagues ended a 22-year-old association with PTI leader Aamir Dogar and announced joining the IPP after meeting with Jahangir Tareen.

Mr Baloch expressed his support for the IPP and said that Mr Tareen would eradicate the deprivations of Multan.

He highlighted that their constituency had been ignored, but assured that Tareen would change the plight of Multan in the same way he carried out developmental work and public welfare projects in Lodhran.

Mr Tareen vowed to keep every single promise made to the people of Multan and Lodhran.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2024