The Verdict
What is Shah Mahmood Qureshi doing?

What is Shah Mahmood Qureshi doing?

Will it be the PTI or the PML-N? Qureshi is keeping everyone speculating till November 27.

Zahid Gishkori November 17, 2011

Like many observing the political musical chairs before the elections, I too was curious about Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s cryptic political decision. Why did he leave us guessing by not disclosing his future plans the day he announced that he was leaving the Pakistan Peoples Party?

Perhaps, he wants to remain inthe limelight by encouraging speculations till November 27 at the Ghotki rally. He might, on the other hand, be attempting a win-win situation as both Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan are preparing to welcome him in their parties. God knows better.

[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fcVdiINCqQ]]

After a 20 minute conversation with him I can only guess that he is still contemplating. This perplexed me greatly given that he resigned as foreign minister earlier this year.

My inquisitive nature compelled me to talk to his family members, his devotees, and some MPAs to find out what the future held for Mr Qureshi.

The conclusion?

Nobody knows about the 'drone' he is going to launch on November 27. To my untrained eye, he is still as indecisive as he was five years ago, when his nephew and I used to visit Bab-ul-Quresh Daulat Gate in our university days in Multan.

Qureshi might prefer PML-N as one of his family members told me that Nawaz Sharif placed a call to his uncle on Friday. The relative quoted Nawaz Sharif’s words:

“You are always welcome. Our doors are open for you, Qureshi sahb.”

However, I was still curious if Qureshi would be able to replace Javed Hashmi.

I put the question to a foreign diplomat I met on Tuesday in Islamabad. His answer was:

“Yes, he can because Qureshi is now a hotcake for Sharif brothers.”

What is blatantly clear is that even if Qureshi decides to join the PTI, his devotees will stick by him and say “yes sain” in southern Punjab and interior Sindh. No matter whatever happens, it is clear Qureshi is looking for new friends now.

[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yeF5BrCt2w]]

WRITTEN BY:
Zahid Gishkori

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

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COMMENTS (22)

Mateen Salahuddin | 12 years ago | Reply Shah Mehmood Qureshi's Game: 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?

Anil | 12 years ago | Reply You guys must understand that Qureshi wants to become a Prime Minister of Pakistan which is next to impossible for him at the moment. So, please let him go wherever he wants. Best of luck Qureshi sb. We can only pray for you.

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amin | 12 years ago | Reply shah mehmood can go pmln so thta javed hashmi can come to pti. ps. shah mehmood and hashmi dont like each other.

muhammad imran | 12 years ago | Reply SMQ should go on for PTI, because he will be loudly welcome in PTI in contrast to PML N

sajid | 12 years ago | Reply If SMQ is trying to become bhutto then he lives in a fools paradise. Bhutto was energetic,charming,engaging and had extremely good leadership qualities SMQ lacks all this. He is just another feudal who resigned when not given his favourite ministry during cabinet re shuffling. He was a useless foreign minister. I watched a couple of his interviews and I really could not see anything exceptional about him.

ALi | 12 years ago | Reply Nwaz Sharif is a cunning politician he will not let him go in PTI. Shah Sab good bye i know you are joining PMLN but keep in mind Your are going to be next Javed Hashmi.

Shuaib | 12 years ago | Reply I made a comment here that was slightly negative towards SMQ. It wasn't approved. Interesting.

Imran Naeem Ahmad | 12 years ago | Reply Great piece of work Zahid.

Shahzad | 12 years ago | Reply To me Qureshi will never join PML(N) because definetly he would not be in first line or even seccond line of leaders, By first line I mean Sharif Brothers, Shahbaz, and in second line there are many leaders in Punjab, Javed Hashmi, khosa Sahib, Ishaq Dar and Khawaja Asif . I am pretty sure that Nawaz Sharif can not side line this second line leadership and give Qureshi any priority, so Mr. Qureshi knows that He will not enjoy same status in PML(N) as he was in PPPP a year ago, He will definetly join PTI and is just increasing his worth in PTI.

NB | 12 years ago | Reply Whatever it is, Imran should be aware of such people who are literally "thali ka began" and should not stake his party reputation.

Ch Allah Daad | 12 years ago | Reply No doubt he should be confused. If he joins PML(N), he would be at 7 or 8 steps down the ladder but advantage is that he would win his nationlal assembly seat quite easily. On the other hand, if he joins PTI, automatically he will be placed at no. 2 position and would stand eligible for one of the top two positions in Imran's government. The disadvantage is that N league and PPP will join together to defeat him at any cost.

Danyal Kaimkhani | 12 years ago | Reply i think imran khan disclosing the fact that SMQ will join PTI on november 27th was a pressure tactic for SMQ to join PTI i mean what made imran khan think that if according to SMQ he never made a decision imran played a political card to hype this issue up as we all know that PTI is gaining popularity people will welcome smq so much that he will be pressured to refuse PTI i dont think Imran shouldve put SMQ on spot like that anyways lets see what happens we all know regardless of the fact SMQ joins PTI or not the crowd that will be in Ghotki will be there for SMQ only not because of imran khan as i know PTI will say this is for us

Aniq | 12 years ago | Reply @Imran Amjad: he was Sacked by the United States Just as The President Johnson tried to get Ayub Khan to sack Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for not accepting US Policy on China

Amaar Jafar | 12 years ago | Reply @Asif Qasim: How u can justify this man! I don't agree with you. @All He will join PTI. I assure you

Adil Khan | 12 years ago | Reply In my opinion, Shah will not join any big party like PTI or PML-N, He might to contact first with the dissident of the party like Ghinwa Bhutto Naheed Khan etc who will play a vital role in Pakistani’s politics.

Asif Qasim | 12 years ago | Reply Qureshi has PM stature. PTI Chairman has yet to do effort for this stature....

Vaqas Abdi | 12 years ago | Reply @Ijaz He is my hero...At least he is better than Imran Khan.....

M.bano | 12 years ago | Reply Actually Imran he did resign way before the lame reshuffle took place, in a meeting with the prez and PM and others over Ray Davis and his immunity entitlement, he gave his resignation. It was turned down and only accepted days later when the entire cab resigned pre reshuffle. Get your facts right @Imran Amjad:

ijaz Mir | 12 years ago | Reply Shah Mehamood was foreign Minster of Pakistan.he was not a great foreign Minster. Please give me one extraordinary work he has done. Media has made him hero. A magic man he can turn the tide in any party he will join. What a drama? He has a big Bank of votes.

Karim | 12 years ago | Reply He didn't resign. Resignation was, however, spught from him.

Anila Ibrahim | 12 years ago | Reply @Imran Yes he tendered his resignation before he was asked. Qureshi himself has been told the press that he tendered his resignation. Others He is just fooling the media and political players and trying to cash his popularity as a great leader which is not yet. That is it.

Imran Amjad | 12 years ago | Reply did he 'resign' as foreign minister? i recall the portfolio was taken away and as a consequence he refused to play ball with his party.

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