LAHORE: Jahangir Khan Tareen, the head of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party cobbled together from PTI deserters ahead of the polls announced his departure from politics after his party took a drubbing.

Once considered a confidant of the incarcerated former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, Mr Tareen lost both of the National Assembly seats he was contesting on, while his nascent party only managed to grab two NA and one provincial assembly seat.

In a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter), Tareen announced his decision to resign from his position as chairman of IPP and step away from politics altogether. “My gratitude to all members of IPP. I wish them the absolute best,” he added.

This decision marks the end of an era for IPP, leaving many to wonder about the future of the party without its founding leader.

Tareen’s departure from politics has left a void in IPP, and it remains to be seen how the party will navigate this new chapter. As for Tareen, his future endeavours are eagerly anticipated by many, as he had pledged to continue to serve the country in a private capacity.

Reacting to this announcement, IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan expressed sadness, saying Tareen will always be the patron-in-chief for the IPP and all of them. He further said that Tareen’s presence in any government was an honour for that government.

“As a younger brother and IPP president, I pay tribute to him and his philanthropic activities. May Allah bless them with health, safety, and success. Amen,” he added in a post on X.

Aleem Khan had emerged victorious in both NA-117 and Lahore’s provincial assembly constituency PP-149, securing a significant mandate from the electorate.

After earning a humbling defeat for himself and his party in elections Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq stepped down as the head of the party on Monday.

“Accepting responsibility for the defeat in the elections, I resign from the leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami,” he wrote on X.

Mr Haq, whose second term as the JI chief was set to expire on March 31, ended his decade-long run at the helm of the party after an absolute rout in the polls. The Jamaat had fielded 243 candidates for the National Assembly and failed to win even one seat. It had given 531 provincial tickets and only managed to secure six — three in KP, two in Sindh and one in Balochistan.

“Despite my best and tireless efforts, the party has not been able to achieve desired results. Workers put in best efforts. God may reward them for those efforts. I accept the responsibility of the defeat and hereby resign as party head,” his resignation letter reads.