Jahangir Tareen, though disqualified, still seems to play a pivotal role in party politics as his Lahore resident is considered the “second Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) headquarters”.
His sister, Seemi Ezdi, was recently awarded a ticket for Senate and the recently appointed Bait-ul-Maal Managing Director (MD) Aun Abbas Buppi and Communication Parliamentary Secretary MianShafi Arian are also considered to be close to the PTI leader.
His son, Ali Tareen was also awarded a ticket to contest by-polls after Tareen was disqualified by the Supreme Court (SC).
It was in his presence that Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) forged an alliance with the ruling party. Moreover, some members of the ‘Seraiki Sooba Mahaz’ from Southern Punjab also joined PTI under his guidance. It was rumoured that the candidate for Punjab chief minister was also chosen with his advice.
However, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Media Iftikhar Durrani has denied Tareen’s role in party decisions at the federal or provincial level.
“He is part of the consultation process of the party but this doesn’t mean that he is influencing the government’s decisions,” he said talking to a private media outlet.