Qureshi points to 'new politics', says PML-N, PPP's paths will diverge

PTI leader says PDM not an electoral alliance; ATC extends Qureshi's bail in terrorism cases

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Monday that the political paths of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will diverge, adding that “new interesting politics” is emerging.

The former foreign minister made the remarks while talking to the media outside the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad where Judge Abul Hassan extended his interim bail in terrorism cases till July 18.

Qureshi pointed out that a day earlier, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman held a press conference in which he seemed upset with the ruling PML-N, adding that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is not an electoral alliance.

Read Sheikh Rashid predicts emergence of 'new politics'

Remarks by the PTI leader come as Fazl has said the PML-N should have taken into confidence other parties that are part of the PDM about its meeting with the PPP in Dubai.

“The PDM parties are wondering why the PML-N has not taken them into confidence so far about the Dubai moot,” Fazl said on Sunday while talking to some senior reporters in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) capital.

According to media reports, PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif met PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in Dubai on June 27 to allegedly discuss a number of issues, including the date for the next general elections and possible seat adjustments.

These reports claimed that PPP and PML-N top leaders also discussed the names for the caretaker PM, with some media reports, citing anonymous sources, claiming that the parties even reached an agreement on a name.

Read More Covert political talks in Dubai draw Fazl’s ire

Earlier, on July 2, a JUI-F leader had played down the meeting, claiming that there was nothing out of the ordinary about these huddles.

However, Fazl on Sunday openly expressed his disappointment at not being taken into confidence regarding the huddle.

Qureshi's bail extended

During the hearing today, the court inquired that what progress was made in the investigation of the cases registered under terrorism.

To this, the investigating officer said that the investigation has not been completed yet.

Qureshi’s Lawyer Ali Bukhari took the stand that his client’s tweet is not on record.