MULTAN: Former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Tuesday that he had resigned from the position of foreign minister because he was being forced to give diplomatic immunity to Raymond Davis and not because of the ministry.
Speaking to the media in Multan, Qureshi said that the Raymond Davis incident had taken place on January 27 and he had resigned on January 30 in the presence of President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
On reports of him joining Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Qureshi said that he would announce his political plans at the rally in Ghotki on November 27.
Qureshi, responding to criticism from the PPP, said his father did have associations with General Ziaul Haq and he did not deny it.
He said that some PPP leaders got emotional and spoke about him and Ziaul Haq, and that they should not forget that it was under the military dictator that Gilani had taken an oath as a minister.
“People think that they are smarter than Mohtarma Benazir, your political vision is not even equal to her shoes,” said the former foreign minister.
Qureshi said that he himself says that he was with Nawaz Sharif in the past and that he still maintains “excellent” relations with him.
“I met him in the past and will meet him tomorrow if he asks me to.”
Qureshi said that he was going to Dubai to speak at a think tank forum and would meet Nawaz Sahrif on his return if he asks him to.
“I believe in transparency and transparent politics,” said Qureshi. “Now is not the time to save your seat, but it is the time to save Pakistan.”
The former foreign minister lashed out at the PPP leadership and said that neither Zardari nor Gilani had the solutions to Pakistan’s external and internal problems.
“They do not have the substance or intellectual depth to help the country solve its problems.”
Correction: An editorial mistake in the last paragraph of this story has been corrected.
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I don't know how honest Qureshi is in general, but he deserves credit for showing defiance in the case of Raymond Davis.
@ Beenazir... I know he resigned from Ministry in Jan but he has resigned from PPP in Nov, knowing President forced him....
@ gp65, Yes, Davis was freed under Islamic rule Deeyat, which we know was a pressure from govt. side. Also he was foreign minister, it was his duty to make strict actions and if President has interfered in the matter, he should have exposed it earlier.
Immunity thing happened all a sudden when our F.O was maintaining a stance against Raymond so perhaps he was indeed bypassed in the last few hours/ a day or two.
Much as he is an honest popular and bright politician S M Qureshi should search his heart and conscience before joining any other party!!!
Good that he resigns from PPP.. But is it not a little too late and was he not a party to all the facilities granted to the USA and all the wrong doings of the PPP from 2008 to 2011!!!
He is not a good chap.I really don't know how Imran is going to handle his black mailing? Presently he is trying to increase his worth between PMLN and PTI and will join the one who can put him on the same post from where he resigned in the party.This would be his intent but I believe neither PTI nor PMLN will offer the same post to him
Anyone making such foolish statements outside of Pakistan would be laughed off the stage.
@Usman Zafar: It is almost clear that Shah Mahmood Qureshi is joining PTI. As far as hard work of Shahbaz Sharif is concerned, he has turned out to be the most incompetent Chief Minister. If he had paid little attention to proper Dengue spray, thousands of precious lives could have been saved. Numbers given by Punjab Government are totally unreliable.
A big blow for PPP...They are shocked. If he can get a few more candidates from PPP, game over.
Resigned as Foreign Minister ? I thought his ministry was changed.
Secondly, why was not the next incharge forced to give immunity to Raymond Davis ?
Qureshi is a brave & honest man. Thumbs up to him. We welcome him in PTI.
@MAHER ALI: "Davis was given immunity in March and he has resigned in Nov.. Wow so quick."
Davis was never given immunity. He was freed under the Islamic deeyat/qisas laws. His reference is to the 'attempt' to give Davis immunity in Jan. If you read the aricle, it says that he resigned on Jan 30 from the cabinet.
.@Slman Orangiwala : "Now he is talking !!!! Hypocrite !!!"
Actually he resigned from the cabinet in Januray and he had given a press conference about the Davis issue in late February or March. So it is incorrect to say that he was silent all this while.!
Accusing PPP leadership of lacking "intellectual depth" and then giving a dumb excuse to quit PPP.
Doesn't sound very intelligent. Does it?
IMRAN KHAN BE CAREFUL Davis was freed by a court not with immunity. Shah Mahmood resigned because he was not given foreign ministry again. If he was not moved he would have been in P P P to- day and still loyal to Zardari.Atleast he had the courage to say things in the face . I wish him good luck in PTI! . Pakistan needs such people.
Quereshi speaks only for himself. He is a recalcitrant, retrogade hardliner devoid of any logic except to enrich himself.
Changing loyalty is a good business in Paki politics,shame to all those who vote them again and again.
Not a bad effort to legitimise PPP departure, too bad we've all seen this happen so many times already that all that comes to mind is a certain utensil with a round base and a spout.
From Zia-Nawaz-Watto-PPP to PTI. He is a man of principles
Who is the authority to give immunity A minister or the governament. If it is the govt. then there is no need to force A minister to do this@kamran:
because drone attacks are part a 'tacit approval' provided by GOP and Pak Army, i.e. it is part of pakistan's national security policy and not an arbitrary step (as in the case of raymond davis)
i agree with salman orangiwala!
welldone Shah Mehmood!!!Bravo!!!
Shah Mehmood Qureshi will Join PML N. Imran Khan has diminished his image by accepting PML-Q Turncoats who have ruined the Country when they were with Musharaf. Now the same Turncoats are joining PTI. Imran khan has left his politics of Principle by accepting time and tested candidates. Shahbaz sharif has been one of the Best Chief Minister of pakistan . His Hardwork ,Devotion and dedication was even recognized Internationally in number of forums. During flood Days when MR Zardari was visting his palace in France. It was Shahbaz sharif who visted Every nook and corner of punjab. During Dengue Epdemic he took extra pain and visted hospitals round the clock. Even Expansion and Mega projects were completed on time because of his strict administration. Kalma Chowk project was completed in record time. Ring road Project has given a new lease of Life to Congested Lahore Traffic. Now a days Canal Road expansion project is being carried out with a Fast pace in three shifts 24/7. How can Lahorites forget PML-N ??? The Face of Lahore which appears now is all Due to PML N. The work they have carried out in Lahore no one has ever carried out in past. One Rally of PTI cant dent PML-N in Lahore. For All of Lahorites including me Loin still Roars........
@MAHER he did resign from the ministry after the raymond davis case
Raymond Davis should have been tried for his crimes in Pakistan. Shah Mahmood Qureshi alleges that he resigned because he was being forced to give him immunity. As things turned out, Raymond Davis was whisked out of Pakistan without giving him immunity. Powers that be managed a different route.
Very well said by Faisal Qureshi (Television Anchor and Entrepreneur):
If u can't bother2clean ur street, stop at red light, or park where supposed to, even God wont help u, let alone Imran khan
Is Raymond Davis still in Pakistan? How can he give immunity to a person who is in USA? I dont think Davis wants to come again to Pakistan and enjoy his stay here.
He thinks people of Pakistan are fool? He resigned upon not getting the foreign ministry, the government was as corrupt and as impotent during the prior years but as the Urdu proverb goes Qureshi sahab ke kaan pe joon tak na raingee!
Shah Mahmood Qureshi is a man of principles.
I now that you are thinking whih way to go?
On your left is PML(N) and on your right is PTI.
Don't go here and there.
Look straight.
PTI is your next destination.
On Nov 27th PTI will be having a jalsa in Ghotki so it is pretty obvious he will be joining PTI. I guess PTI needs people like him and Mushahid Hussain, Javed Hashmi and Marvi Memon,
He is calling for early elections. PMLN is calling for the same. In fact the PTI wants late elections to organize and select good winning candidates. My gut feeling is he is joining PMLN and not PTI.
@MAHER ALI: stupid he is talking abt )quiting from the ministry)
why not resign when governmnet not doing something for stopping drone attack.
Express tribune is has a great contribution in pakistani media at international level.i like it....
Davis was given immunity in March and he has resigned in Nov.. Wow so quick..
They do have or do not have? ET's standard is so low, it wouldn't a surprise if they messed that up...
Finally truth comes out. Brave man. Should join PTI!!
mistake in the last line i think: “They do have the substance or intellectual depth to help the country solve its problems.”
this should be
"They do not have..."
He may join PMLN.Lets wait n c
Now he is talking !!!! Hypocrite !!!!