From PPP to PTI: Qureshi’s ‘final’ destination?
Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, expected to officially announce his new party affiliation at his widely-anticipated rally in Ghotki today (Sunday), has decided to join Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), sources told The Express Tribune.
The former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart has also conveyed his decision to both Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan and has asked PTI to join his gathering in Ghotki. Qureshi’s close friend and member of PML-N Asghar Ali Rind informed Sharif of his final decision.
Another close ally of the former minister, a PPP member of the Punjab Assembly who requested anonymity, confirmed to The Express Tribune that Qureshi was indeed joining PTI.
Sources also said that Shah Mehmood Qureshi made his decision after two days of consultation with friends inside and outside the country, who “strongly recommended” it.
PML-N tight-lipped
Former Sindh governor Mamnoon Hussain while talking to The Express Tribune corroborated that he had helped arrange the meeting between Qureshi and Sharif but added that only an official announcement would confirm Qureshi’s new affiliation and that he had no information on Qureshi conveying a decision to the PML-N chief.
In what appeared to be a dismissal of Qureshi by the PML-N, MNA Rana Mehmoodul Hassan told The Express Tribune that Qureshi is “following the directions of people in Aabpara in Islamabad”. He added that PML-N held negotiations over seat adjustment often and after contemplation, party leadership had taken a final decision in this regard.
Rahim Yar Khan to Ghotki: a (political) journey
Meanwhile, PTI office bearers from all over Punjab, including Lahore, have started their journey towards Ghotki. On the way, they will attend a rally in Rahim Yar Khan, located a short distance from Qureshi’s rally’s venue, where PTI chief Khan is to address a gathering. Former district nazim Rafique Haider Khan Leghari and other former MPAs and MNAs including Zafar Cheema are also to join PTI there.
“According to PTI’s schedule, Imran will address the Rahim Yar Khan gathering in the morning and move towards Ghotki where both him and Qureshi will deliver speeches on their future policy,” a top PTI official confirmed.
PTI sources also told The Express Tribune that negotiations between Qureshi and PTI had been finalised by PTI Senior Vice President Hamid Khan and ‘some influential people in Islamabad’.
PTI General Secretary Dr Arif Ali has confirmed that Khan will deliver his address after 4pm in Ghotki. Asked about any deal between Qureshi and PTI, he merely stated that Qureshi’s designation in the PTI could only be confirmed after he joined the party. He added that PTI Senior Vice President Ejaz Chaudhry is already in Ghotki involved in arrangements for the rally.
The former minister himself was not available for comment.
Qureshi in Multan
Meanwhile, the man who will answer the big question himself continued his anti-government tirade at an address in Multan, giving a preview of what is likely to be said at his rally. The former foreign minister said that the NRO verdict announced on Friday was the first step towards change which would unveil “all corrupt people sitting in positions of power”.
[WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY OWAIS JAFRI IN MULTAN]
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2011.
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@Ch Allah Daad: "PPP or PMLN joins hands" good idea that's what we are saying that these are the two sides of same coin. Thanks for accepting reality.
imran we love you
pti is the power of pakistan
The only seat he could have won was in Multan. Now PPP and PML(N) would join hands against him. End of SMQ.
PP brearhes sigh of relief!
Bye Bye Sharif Brothers, Har Kala Raasha Imran Khan. We can now see the dawning of a new morning which will be good for the people and the country as a whole.
@Khalid Javed: Don't tell me you couldn't see this coming? It's just the beginning. Did you expect Khan to spend another 16 years just talking on tv shows? He needs votes and votes are controlled by the feudals. IK is no revolutionary. He personally may be Mr Clean (so far) but he loves money and now he wants power , the top spot. He will most probably get it using the slave drivers in the rural areas and the uniformwali elite. IK is currently gathering his own version of people like Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Babar Awan, Rana Sanaullah, etc. Sorry your heart has been broken. Stop being romantic about politicians bro!
I HEARTLY REQUEST TO MR.SHAH MAHMOOD QURESHI TO JOIN PTI BCZ WE WANT CHANGE & WE DONT SEE THIS CORRUPT GOVT: ANY MORE SO MR.SHAH MAHMOOD PLZ JOIN PTI PLZ THINK ABOUT THE YOUTH OF PAKISTAN.................**
its all about lotas
All being manipulated by hidden hands... The dilemma with SMQ is that his over-ambitiousness made him commit a mistake on Raymond's case..."idhar ka raha, na udhar ka raha" He only did what was told to him...He got ridiculously used was for a tactical stunt spanning over just a month or so... And besides...would SMQ dare say who negotiated Raymond's release deal with the Americans and who manipulated the release of Raymond in the end? Why didn't SMQ bother to comment on the drop-scene of the Raymond's case?? And...If he was so big a patriot and so principled...where was he on Dr. Aafia's case, Kerry Lugar Bill, Drone and Nato strikes?
Tsnami of 'change' advances!!!
ZAFAR IQBAL WARRAICH JOINED PTI...
He was traitor musharraf's MINISTER of state for interior for 5 years. Zafar Warraich ratified, supervised the massacre and carnage in LAL MASJID :'( He was the head of Islamabad administration and police which dragged the CHIEF JUSTICE on the constitution avenue It was under his watch that the 60 judges were house arrested...PML-N: Qureshi is “following the directions of people in Aabpara in Islamabad”.(ISI) PTI: Our Negotiation with SMQ were finalized by Hamid Khan and ‘some influential people in Islamabad’(Establishment)
So all know WHO are backing Him up!!!
SMQ is not joining any party neither Marvi, who will also address.
Just a political activity. This is most liely scenario so PTI supporters dont be hopeful.
Looks like Pakistan is in for Good Times after all & sundry backing PTI - Imran Khan rightly said "Allah is The Hidden Hand behind PTI"
SMQ is welcomed in PTI.....SMQ..!! U will have to stay with manifesto of PTI....GoodLuck
I thought that SMQ is a sensible person and will remain loyal to PPP. That's only the game of power politics
ITS A GOOD DECISION..
Qureshi ..I think is still not thinking about the PEOPLE of this Country,otherwise he would not have gone to see the Nawaz Brothers, he seems to be looking for a slot for himself,where he comes out to be a Hero,(of sorts),He did say he would join the PTI, therefore, he should JOIN the PTI . Imran Khan , is not a Political Leader, he is more of a 'Savior',with the sole mission ..to to make this Country, a Great Nation !..If Qureshi, feels the same was ! he should put himself..aside, and stand along with with our Champion !..In doing so..he would have done his Bit, for The Country !
Why SMQ chooses Ghotaki? Ans: People must understand that he has 500,000-700,000 (Mureeds) disciples in this area and if not all at least half will attend, so what is so important? If he wants to show his strength then let him come to Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Quetta and Peshawar. It is time for the people to use their brains rather than followings on religious grounds.
Good decision Qureshi Sahib. You realised that PPP and PML N were relics of the past and nothing more than regional parties.The youth of this country wants a new beginning. I hope you will play an important role to strengthen PTI in Southern Punjab and Interior Sindh.
Inshallah PTI will emerge as a Nationalist party where Sindhis, Seraikis, Urdu speakers, Punjabis, Pushtuns, Hazarawals, Balochis, Kashmiris and Baltis will join hands under the banner of Insaf to work for the betterment of our homeland Pakistan. That will be the real change when our primary identity will be Pakistani and not some ethnicity. Only PTI can bring this about and my heart longs to see that day.
Shah ji, please join us, we are waiting that you will announce to join us today....
Waooo, Great news, haha, lolz @ PML-N
@Junaid:
Pakistani politics is the coin. PPP and PML(N) are on the same side alongwith a few others.
I am an ardent fan and a member of PTI but not convincingly happy at this fusion of feudal background which SQM has, with PTI's ideal & image (which people like me cherished for 16 years). Was PTI not essentially presumed to be a party of educated, urbanized, working class struggling against the forces of STATUS QUO respresented by feudals?
So all You PTI supporters now loving PTI but a few days back when this tribune reported that SMQ will be joining PML(N) then u guys were saying what a turncoat and all and a lota but now he is Mr Clean and all..gr8 supporters..Double standards
Shah Mehmood Qureshi is joining PML-N in Ghotki today. Stay relaxed, PTI fans! Move your attentions to some other turncoat (lota) now.
Good thing Qureshi realizes that PPP and PML-N are two sides of the same coin.
He joins or not.. No one can stop PTI now!!
That is certainly a good news...we need the best hands of the nation on deck to address the challenges ahead...I guess PTI is here to stay, writing a new chapter in the history of this nation!
Though the possibility that Shah Mahmood Qureshi may announce to join PTI, but one cannot rule out the possibility that he may announce own faction group today in Gotki.
Bye Bye PML-N.
Any sensible politician will choose PTI instead of PML(N). Qureshi sahib welcome to PTI. Now PTI should concentrate on interior Sindh.