Shaukat Tarin Resigns and Bids Farewell to PTI: Another Blow Amidst Party Turmoil

Growing Exodus: High-Profile Departures Worsen PTI’s Internal Crisis.

In a recent setback for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party faced another blow as former finance minister Shaukat Tarin officially distanced himself from the Imran Khan-led party on Friday. Confirming his departure, Tarin announced relinquishing his party membership and resigning from his Senate seat in a conversation with a private news channel.

Tarin revealed that he is not only severing ties with the PTI but is also bidding farewell to politics altogether. His exit from the party comes amid a period of decline marked by legal and political challenges for the PTI.

Notably, Shaukat Tarin is the latest high-profile figure to disassociate from the former ruling party. He joins a growing list of leaders who have parted ways with PTI, including Asad Umar, Usman Dar, Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, and Pervez Khattak.

The PTI has experienced internal turmoil, especially after the events of May 9, when party workers vandalized state installations following Imran Khan’s arrest. Subsequently, a crackdown was initiated against those involved, leading to the arrest of hundreds of PTI workers and leaders, including Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi.Tarin was first appointed as the finance minister in April 2021, but his term ended as federal minister since he could hold office for only six months without being a lawmaker.

However, Imran did not let him go and appointed him as his adviser on finance. In the same year in December, Tarin became a senator after winning the by-election for a general seat in the upper house of parliament.

More From Daily The Destination: PTI ‘balloon without air; Fazlur Rehman

Days after this, he was sworn in as the federal finance minister for a second time and served the post for just four months as the PTI government was driven out of parliament in a vote of no-confidence against Imran in April 2022.

Tarin also served as federal finance minister during the Pakistan Peoples Party government, from October 2008 to February 2010.