Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday expressed his readiness to face termination from the PPP saying he had ‘options’ in case the party decided to throw him out.
Addressing a press conference, Qureshi said he is an elected public representative and not a student who needs to take permission for everything, referring to his meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif.
“I have options [to join other political parties] but I am not in haste” said the former foreign minister, who is in the line of fire particularly after a meeting with Sharif. Qureshi said that he would announce his “future course of action after the decision of his party”.
Removed from the federal cabinet in the aftermath of the Raymond Davis controversy, the isolated member of the ruling PPP government is on the verge of losing his party membership after the Punjab chapter of the party asked President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the co-chairman of the party, for his termination.
However, Qureshi justified his meeting with Sharif by saying that he had called on Sharif as a politician which was not in violation of the party’s discipline.
Talking to journalists, Qureshi said his party membership was being cancelled due to his meeting with Sharif despite the fact that Benazir Bhutto herself had reconciled with him and both the parties had jointly struggled for the restoration of democracy.
Responding to a question about his ‘options’, Qureshi said he enjoyed an old friendship with PTI chief Imran Khan and Mian Nawaz Sharif was a seasoned politician, but his announcement would be made after the party’s decision is finalised.
“I raise the flag of revolt against democratic dictatorship,” he said, adding that ‘back benchers’ of the PPP were silent, but not unaware of the situation.
During the briefing, without actually naming President Asif Ali Zardari, Qureshi said: “Had Mohtarma been alive, would ‘this man’ have had position he is on?”
Shah Mahmood Qureshi indicated he would not quit himself, but wait for the party’s decision.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2011.
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Imran Khan and Mehmood Qurashi will make a good team, He should say goodbye to PPP on his own because they won't let him become even a bigger hero by throwing him out of the party.
Mr.Qureshi should leave quitely for the sake of Pakistan.He failed as foreign minister and should now spend his time learning proper english.Pakistan has countless educated people to replace Mr. Qureshi.During the many meetings with Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Qureshi was always out of his depth.
QURESHI SAHAB... You are the next Bhutto. We are with you!
these all r making us fools and the best part is every time we look towards them for our solution ..when u make so much blunders after that taking stand on a single issue sori my dear now all the doors are close and shah saab must leave we r not here to see them turn wise in a shape or under the flags of different parties sori not at all enough of damage
So much water has already passed under the bridge.Let fresh people come in the lead.Do these people have any credentials?Look at the big CHUDARIES,sold themselves out for the crimes committed by their junior.We are all disappointed with these old lot already.
Every pakistani foreign minister cannot be Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.Brave politicians should fight in odd circumstances like brave soldiers.Just see Aitzaz Ahsan growing his stature day by day even he has difference of opinion with party leadership but what makes him aloft others is his genious.I have a soft corner for N party but its recent overtures match with the past of Shah Sahib who grew with N to get a chance to have lovely guestures with Clinton.ZAB was miles ahead of him in his vision, integrity and grip over worldly affairs.