New allegiances: Nawaz confirms he’ll meet Qureshi on 22nd

Qureshi expressed his desire to join the PML-N, says Nawaz.


Abdul Manan November 19, 2011

LAHORE: A day after he confirmed that contacts had been made with Shah Mahmood Qureshi, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has announced that the two leaders will be meeting on November 22.

“In our last meeting, Qureshi expressed the desire to join the PML-N and on November 22, we will resume our talks from the point where we left off,” Nawaz told reporters in Lahore on Friday.

Earlier, Qureshi and Nawaz had spoken about a seat adjustment but talks had broken down without any conclusion. Now, PML-N appears ready to fulfil all his demands on seat adjustment.

Responding to a question on Ayesha Ahad Khan, the woman who claims she married the Punjab chief minister’s son Hamza Shahbaz, Nawaz said that the PML-N has always maintained discipline in the party. “Hamza’s case is not related to public accountability and the party is working on it internally,” he claimed.

Fertiliser corruption

PML-N deputy general secretary Ahsan Iqbal alleged that the federal government, instead of stopping corruption in its own institutions, had given a go-ahead to the PML-Q to openly and freely loot public money.

He said that despite the Punjab government’s letters to the federal government, asking it to import around 1.2 million tons of fertiliser from abroad, the government imported only 0.7 million tons and that too after much delay. He said that PML-Q’s front man at the State Guest House imports Urea on high prices and registers fake distribution agents across the country who are paid a commission of Rs200 per bag by farmers.

Faisalabad rally prep

For all his fiery statements, it appears that Nawaz may not be present at the Faisalabad rally on November 20.

“According to my sources, the PML-N chief will not be at the meeting. Only patwaris and sweepers will be calling roll,” Raja Riaz, opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, told reporters in Faisalabad. (With additional reporting by Shamsul Islam in Faisalabad)

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th, 2011.

COMMENTS (31)

Majid | 12 years ago | Reply

There could be no more bigger bidder for SMQ than PTI. Except IK, he will be second in command in PTI. But in PMLN, NS has already held that he must come into PMLN lines unconditional and only party's cabinet will decide whom to give what.

SYED | 12 years ago | Reply

This will be a bidding war. Qureshi will be owned by the highest bidder. There are no qualms of conscience in Pakistani politics. One who pays the higher price gets him until he changes the alligence again. Till then the winner of the present auction is......

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