Clearing confusions: ‘We cannot ally with rejected parties’

Shah Mehmood denies rumours of coalition with APML, others.

MULTAN: “There will be no coalition with former president Pervez Musharraf at any cost,” Shah Mehmood Qureshi, vice chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, said on Monday.

During his Sunday’s address at the ceremonies on the second day of Bahauddin Zakariya’s urs, Qureshi had said that the decision about forming an alliance with Musharraf will be taken after considering the circumstances. On Monday, however, he denied having said that, saying he had been mistaken. Trying to clarify the false impression that PTI might form an alliance with Musharraf, Qureshi said that no such coalition with the All Pakistan Muslim League will happen under any circumstances.

In an exclusive talk with The Express Tribune, Qureshi said that the party was faced with a flood of people wanting to join the PTI, so it did not need any coalition.

“We cannot unite with parties that have been rejected by the people of Pakistan. The APML is one of them,” he said.

Earlier, Qureshi addressed the media on the last day of the urs celebrations. Sunni Tehreek president Sarwat Ijaz Qadri was also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2012.