Profile: Shah Mehmood Qureshi, from PML, to PPP to PTI
Qureshi’s political career has seen major shifts, jumping from different Pakistan Muslim League (PML) factions to the Pakistan Peoples Party and now the PTI.
His home constituency is Multan NA-148, which he shares with PML-N leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi. He received his early education from Aitchison College and went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree in History from Forman Christian College and a then a Law degree from Cambridge University.
His father, Sajjad Hussain Qureshi, was a prominent politician and a member of the PPP during the 1970s. The senior Qureshi supported the presidency of General Ziaul Haq after Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s hanging and later served as the Governor of Punjab from December 1985 to December 1988.
Timeline of Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s political career
1985: Qureshi was first elected to the Punjab Assembly from Multan in elections that were held on a non-party basis.
1986: Qureshi joins the reformed Pakistan Muslim League (PML), which had brought together a number of Muslim League factions under the leadership of Muhammad Khan Junejo during General Ziaul Haq’s Government.
1988: Joins the Nawaz Sharif led PML faction, which had split from the original PML after Zia’s death in the same year.
During this time, Qureshi was reelected to the Punjab assembly from Multan and served as the Minister of Planning & Development in the cabinet of the then Chief Minister Nawaz Sharif. Qureshi served as minister from November 1988 to August 1990.
1990: Qureshi parts ways with Sharif and joins the re-formed Manzoor Wattoo led Pakistan Muslim League – Junejo (PML-J). He was once again elected to the Punjab Assembly from Multan.
Qureshi served as Finance Minister in the cabinet of Chief Minister Manzoor Wattoo from 1990 to 1993.
1993: Shah Mahmood Qureshi once again shifted allegiances and this time joined Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Qureshi was elected to the National Assembly from Multan and served as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs under Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
November, 1996: Appoint PPP spokesperson.
1997: PML-N leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi defeats Qureshi in the general elections.
2000-2002: Qureshi served as the District Nazim of Multan.
2002: Shah Mahmood Qureshi contested the 2002 elections as a member of the PPP and defeated Makhdoom Javed Hashmi to win the Multan National Assembly seat.
2006: Benazir Bhutto appoints Qureshi President of PPP Punjab.
2008: Once again wins the National Assembly seat from Multan and is appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.
February, 2011: Qureshi is dropped from the federal cabinet as Foreign Minister in the aftermath of the Raymond Davis Affair. Many believe it was Qureshi’s stand on the diplomatic immunity for Davis that led to him being dropped from the cabinet.
November 15, 2011: Qureshi resigns from the National Assembly and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
November 27, 2011: Qureshi announces joining the Imran Khan led Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) at a rally in Ghotki.
COMMENTS (21)
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we welcum SMQ in the PTI setup... a great addition.... and very timel as well
A Lota is an equal opportunity grabber. All parties will have their turn to take him into their fold.
@Starboy: Time will tell, if it is for the seat or principle or idealogy!!
finally he landed in a right party and i dont agree with people saying turncoats etc if he had stayed in this ppp governmant we still would have been swearing at him and if he made a decision to join someone whom is different and not conventional and we started calling names where is our logic ?
SMQ is a clean politician & there is no corruption allegation or charges against him. He is following PTI,s idealogy not a minister seat. Qaid e Azam changed his party from Indian Congress to Muslim League following an idea of a separate country. Which he could not have achieved in congress. So one cannot follow one idea or party throughout his life.
what next shah sab? MQM? or Q league?
The report is factually incorrect. SMQ did NOT resign from foreign ministry. He was in fact removed from foreign ministry and was assigned the ministry for water & power. He refused to take charge for the new assignment.
@Tanzeel: Your comments shows the frustration which is inevitable keeping your past relentless support for MQM.
SMQ from PML to PPP to PTI to Zero.
Its not a new thing for Great Qureshi that he change his allegince ,but this time we are hoping that this combination bring some good for us as well?
Congratulations!! Shah Mahmood Qureshi & Imran khan. Now the party is becoming stronger & stronger by the day .
Imran Khan president, Qureshi Prime Minister
and probably our next foreign minister...
Finally, he landed in the right party. Better late than never!
Shah Mehmood has hijacked the PTI. Imran Khan has also disappointed the nation by welcoming turn coats, Sajjada Nasheens, and Feudals into the party