Qureshi has a vote bank in Sindh. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: With rumours abound that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi would contest the upcoming elections as an independent, the party's vice chairman ruled out any such possibility.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Qureshi said that he was “working with Imran Khan and will contest elections on PTI tickets.”
“I cannot even think of contesting elections independently.”
Qureshi, who met with Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) chief Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi (Pir Pagara) in Karachi on Saturday, said whatever he was doing was after consultation with PTI chairman Imran Khan.
Pir Pagara and Qureshi had discussed the political situation and matters related to the general election in the country during their meeting at Raja house.
During a joint press conference, Qureshi toed the party line saying the next election was a competition between what he termed the `opportunist politicians' and those who really wanted to serve the nation.
Independent or not, SMQ is PTI: Imran
Speaking to the media after arriving in Karachi on Saturday afternoon, PTI chairman Imran Khan said that whether his party’s vice chairman contested independently or from a PTI ticket, the seat, if won, would be PTI’s.
“If SMQ contests on a ticket or independently the seat will still be PTI's.”
Imran explained that the party wanted a breakthrough in Sindh beyond the candidates that would be contesting elections in the province. “We wanted a breakthrough in Sindh and Shah Mahmood Qureshi has vote bank in a constituency in Sindh.”
“On two seats there was a peculiar situation - even if he contests as an independent on that seat, he is the vice president of the PTI, so that seat would be PTI's.”
Imran said that the decision on whether to contest for the seat as an independent or on a party ticket had been left to Qureshi. “We have left the decision on those two seats on Qureshi. “That area, its significance, and if you do not do local adjustment, you know what the situation is there in Tharparkar.”
The PTI chief though ruled out that his party was entering into any alliance with any party in Sindh.
“We do not have any alliance in Sindh, I want to clear that we do not have any alliance with any party, we do not want to take on their burden.”
COMMENTS (22)
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big slap on n league media center
If Shah Mahmood Qureshi decides to run as an independent, irrelevant of the jurisdiction, it will be a major strategic blunder as it will diminish public credibility of the party and more questions will be raised inside the party. I would enforce Qureshi to run as a PTI member or leave the party, which Khan cannot afford.
Imran is not the only hope, unfortunately he is the last hope. Perhaps its cynicism but seems its now or never !! Who will survive to wait for another 5 years if its not your term PTI.
@ikhlaas: i love pti n imran khan imran have ablity to change system in pakitan n make new pakistan. bust of luck khan
In Sindh, SMQ the caretaker of Sufi shrine will win not SMQ the leader of PTI.
Such these types of steps taken by PTI key representatives are definitely and no-doubt harmful for PTI and Imran Khan as well because such these types of steps show and prove that there is something extremely wrongful in PTI and also show and prove that there are growing and increasing differences and disunity amongst Imran Khan and PTI's representatives and Tsunami Khan is not going to take enough seats in the National and Provincial Assemblies to form the next government as Tsunami Khan has been claiming in his speeches and addresses on the different places in Pakistan.....
we know PTI is not going to win majority seats. because this nation is still immature, illiterate, narrow-sighted.
Are PTI and its top leaders already playing games? Is there an example of any major party whose top leaders cannot decide whether to contest on party ticket or be ashamed of that and try their luck as independent. Knowing there is no voter bank in Sindh the party of change is banking upon religious leaders and feudal not the party ticket and message. This duality even prior to the elections is really a new thing even in Pakistan and a change.
Those PTI boys making their nick names as PML-N supporters to bash PML-N, Please grow up. If you are not afraid of PML-N, there is no need to do such negative trolling. It gives us an impression that this forum has been hijacked by trolls from either side.
Election is a serious business. PTI's immature kids can steal internet idententy but cannot steal my vote, PTI's victory on any seat in my district is impossible, if its candidates save their Zamanat, I will consider it my defeat.
i wish PTI d had given tickets in Lahore, Rwp and Khi to educated persons so that undecided voters could have tilted towards them.
Be sensable , dnt letnnaimsm PTI down.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Its ok we can understand. PML N will not win inshaALLAH. Imran you will the winner and PTI will sweep election 2013. ALLAH madad karay ga inshaALLAH. Mjhe ALLAH se ummeed hai.
@Ch. Allah Daad: I understand your position brother. It happens to me also. I have now started to keep reminders on my mobile phone to make sure I do not skip my medicine. Otherwise I end up saying incoherent things like you. But good news is my shrink tells me I will be fine, so you will too, Inshallah.
I am sorry about my earlier comment--sometimes, I forget to take my medicine and end up saying totally senseless things. My sincere apologies.
Contesting as an Independent candidate is a clear sign of rift between him and Imran, otherwise a party's vice chairman cannot think of doing this horrible thing. Second possibility is that SMQ knows that PTI cannot win majority, therefore as an Independent would make it easier for him to join majority party. My wish is that he lose all seats but with more margin as an Independent.
Smart politics. Shah Mehmood is an upright politician and he'll make decisions wisely.
My advice to twitter analysts is not to jump to conclusions quickly...
very accomplished and genuine leader SMQ ,best of luck PTI