Istehkam-e-Pakistan (IPP) Chairman Jahangir Tareen accepted the results of the 2024 general elections on Monday and announced that he would be quitting politics.
Tareen, who was contesting from his hometown of Lodhran — NA-155 Lodhran II — lost the elections to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Khan Muhammad Siddique Jan Baloch. Tareen could only muster 71,128 votes to Baloch's 117,671 votes.
Reacting to the defeat in a message posted to his social media account on 'X' (former Twitter) on Monday, Tareen thanked all those who supported him and voted for him.
"I would like to thank everyone who supported me in this election and want to offer my congratulations to my opponents," he said.
"I have immense respect for the will of the people of Pakistan."
One of Pakistan's biggest sugar barons, Tareen said he had decided to resign from the position of chairman of the IPP — a party he had set up only last year comprising other likeminded individuals who were previously part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) but who had become disgruntled or disillusioned with the party. IPP absorbed a lot of politicians who jumped from PTI's sinking ship in the aftermath of the May 9 incidents.
Tareen did not stop by simply stepping away from his position in the party, adding that he was quitting politics altogether.
"My gratitude to all the members of IPP. I wish them the absolute best," he said, adding that he will continue to serve the country to the best of my ability in a private capacity.
"May the next few years see Pakistan prosper IA."
The news of Tareen's departure from the party and politics aggrieved IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan.
In a message on 'X', fellow PTI defector Aleem Khan said Tareen's decision deeply hurt him.
"[Tareen] will always remain our patron in chief," he said, adding that Tareen's presence in any government would have been a source of honour for that government.
"Apart from politics, he is someone who feels the pain of humanity. As his younger brother and IPP president, I pay tribute to him and his philanthropic activities," Abdul Aleem Khan said.