ISLAMABAD: Shaukat Tarin, the former finance minister, marked the beginning of the news on Friday by declaring his resignation from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) membership, thereby signaling his departure from the political arena.
Confirming his decision to a Private TV Channel, the former finance stalwart also disclosed his resignation from the Senate seat.
Tarin’s departure deals a fresh blow to the Imran Khan-led party, which is already grappling with a decline amid legal and political challenges.
He becomes the latest in a string of leaders to distance themselves from the erstwhile ruling party, joining the likes of Asad Umar, Usman Dar, Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, and Pervez Khattak.
Since the events of May 9, when PTI workers vandalized state installations after Imran Khan’s arrest, several other PTI leaders have severed ties with Khan.
A subsequent crackdown led to the apprehension of hundreds of party members and leaders, including Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Initially appointed as the finance minister in April 2021, Tarin’s tenure ended due to the six-month limitation for non-lawmakers to hold ministerial office. Despite this, Imran Khan appointed him as his finance advisor. In December of the same year, Tarin secured a Senate seat through a by-election.
Shortly after, he resumed his role as federal finance minister, serving for a brief four months until the PTI government faced expulsion from parliament in April 2022 following a vote of no-confidence against Imran Khan.
Tarin had previously held the position of federal finance minister during the Pakistan Peoples Party government, serving from October 2008 to February 2010.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
