PPP-SMQ?: Qureshi to approach the Bhuttos

The hottest political free agent in the country continues to keep it interesting.


Zahid Gishkori November 15, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


The hottest political free agent in the country continues to keep it interesting.


Having resigned from both his National Assembly seat and the membership of PPP on Monday, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has approached PPP (Shaheed Bhutto Group) Chairperson Ghinwa Bhutto to attend a rally he planned to address in Ghotki (Sindh) on November 27.

The former PPP stalwart is set to announce his political future at the highly-anticipated rally.

Qureshi is keeping his options open and his associates say he may still prefer to associate himself on “Bhutto legacy” over allying himself with other political groups. And what better way to do this than getting the family of PPP founder ZA Bhutto’s slain eldest son on board.

“Qureshi after weeks’ long deliberations with selected friends approached Ghinwa,” said his close friend MPA Dr Akhtar Malik from Multan. A formal invitation to Mir Murtaza Bhutto’s family to attend the Ghotki rally will be sent by end of this week, he added.

Ghinwa has been estranged from the powerful Bhutto family ever since she accused Benazir and her husband Asif Zardari of being responsible for the murder of her husband in 1996.

Qureshi also contacted Sindh National Party Chief Mumtaz Bhutto to bring all PPP dissident leaders under a single umbrella, added Malik. “Mumtaz has also endorsed Qureshi sahib’s idea.” Tens of thousands of Qureshi’s followers are expected to attend the rally.

Qureshi also confirmed to The Express Tribune that he had been in contact with Murtaza Bhutto’s family, saying “Only real Bhuttos can promote ZA Bhutto’s philosophy.”

Qureshi also said that he had been in contact with both the PML-N and PTI. But despite having detailed discussions with Nawaz Sharif, Qureshi is yet to make up his mind.

Qureshi is a hot political free agent at the moment. Aside from his own seat, He can bring with him over a dozen PPP MPAs from the Punjab who are loyal to him, inlcuding Dr Akhtar Malik, Abbas Rawn and Amjab Khosa.

Sikandar Bosan, a political opponent of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, said, “Qureshi cannot work with PML-N because PML-N leaders like Javed Hashmi and Zulfiqar Ali Khosa are opposed to his joining.”

Qureshi has also approached old political associates like Jehangir Tareen, Ishaq Khakwani, Muhammad Ali Durrani and other leaders from Sindh who have now allied themselves to the PTI.

Some political pundits still believe that Qureshi will not join Imran Khan as he considers his political stature to be greater than that of the ex-cricketer’s.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th,  2011.

COMMENTS (5)

Ali | 12 years ago | Reply

Calling imran khan an ex cricker is like calling Barack Obama a ex lawyer

Anwer Kamal | 12 years ago | Reply

In this case he will lose a great support of PPP workers who like him.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ