ISLAMABAD: Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, the spokesperson of the newly-conceived Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), has said that the new party will be registered with the Election Commis­sion of Pakistan (ECP) soon after Eidul Azha with a unique manifesto that would emphasise on promotion of IT and digitalisation, as well as mainstreaming women in the national workforce.

Dr Awan, information secretary of the recently established IPP led by Jahangir Tareen and primarily consisting of defectors from the embattled PTI, is currently in the federal capital doing promotional work for the party.

Talking to media on Friday, she said that the paperwork for the party has been finalised and the documents will be submitted for registration at the ECP in the first week of July.

“We are a new party and our manifesto should also reflect the modern needs of the country,” she added.

Plans ‘unique manifesto’ for promoting digitalisation, women’s empowerment

She said that in the current era, there was a demand for the promotion of digitalisation at all levels, which will ultimately reduce human interactions and eradicate corruption in the system.

“The second most important step for Pakistan is to ensure that women enter the mainstream workforce in huge number, and the government has to provide a conducive environment to achieve this target,” she added.

The IPP spokesperson said that the key reason for the rise of Imran Khan was his agenda and promises for change, but soon after assuming power he proved to be the worst performer among all the premiers of the country since 2002.

The premiers should have political vision, she said, adding, “I saw the performance of Zaf­ar­ullah Khan Jamali, who had political foresight, Shaukat Aziz was guided by the Chaudharis, Yousaf Raza Gilani had the backing of Asif Zardari sahib, who was the president, Mian sahib is a politician himself.”

She added: “But unfortunately, Imran Khan was the only prime minister in the past 20 years who sought guidance from a bureaucrat, Azam Khan. However, these officers are not politically trained people and they never understand the pulse of the masses and strategic demands of the posts.”

Dr Awan also said that she had differences with Imran Khan only because of some people who had surrounded him.

“Azam Khan, Shahzad Akbar, Shehbaz Gill, Bushra Bibi and Farah Gogi were the gang of five and they destroyed the governing structure, but where have they gone now,” she said.

“Those who encouraged Imran Khan to rise against state institutions should have the courage to accept their fault,” she said, adding that the country needed a political leadership capable of resolving all existing issues, including social, economic and others.

Responding to a query over the future of PML-N and Mr Khan she said that he has made himself Altaf Hussain of 2023.

“And do you think we are doing all this hard work only to bring the PML-N to power?”

She said that Pakistan is in need of a new direction and emphasised the importance of strengthening democracy.

Having held seven federal ministries since 2002, she has been a part of cabinets under six prime ministers since then.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2023