PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. PHOTO: PTI/FILE
Ali Haider Gilani – Gilani’s youngest son - was kidnapped after an attack on a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) gathering in Multan.
"If we don't get my brother by this evening I will not let the elections happen in my area," his brother, Musa Gilani, had said in televised comments.
The PTI vice-chairman while speaking to The Express Tribune said that Gilani’s sons were threatening other candidates through this statement, and such talk was irresponsible.
“The PTI consider it as a direct threat to all other candidates contesting elections, especially from Multan,” he said.
He further said that the PTI will not let the PPP suspend elections in any constituency throughout the country because of this incident.
“I will also personally write to the returning officer about my grievances,” he added.
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Mr. Qureshi! u should learn some morals of politics & leadership from Mr. Gillani. After all we belong to Saraiki Waseeb.
Why am I voting for Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians!
http://www.facebook.com/notes/hammas-hassan/why-am-i-voting-for-pakistan-peoples-party-parliamentarians/10200716089678492
...and to think this man was our Foreign Minister where diplomacy and choice of words are a must.
While the good old Pir Qureshii is going against the Gillani's son he should learn people of his own age. Learn from ex-PM's statement: "Yousaf Raza Gilani urged all PPP supporters to remain silent and to pray for his son’s recovery. “Everything will happen according to the law,” he said. Police officials told The Express Tribune that the target of the attack was Yousaf Raza Gilani, who was also present at the meeting. The gunmen kidnapped his son on being unable to kill the former prime minister." No wonder Gillani was elected PM not Qureshi!
After IK is pushed aside Qureshi is the real face of new PTI. While he never came out this much outrage against the killings and daily bombings of ANP, MQM and PPP by TTP he is really outraged by the reaction of an emotional young opponent! The stealing of elections without competition on the backs of Taliban is looking brighter by the hour. After spending decades with his old friends in PPP all of a sudden Qureshi has so much hate even at the worst time for Gillian's family! Mark my words some day when he would not get the top position after IK, he would show the same characteristics.
@SM: Did any of ministers resign when the son of Salman Taseer was kidnapped?
After imran is in hospital finally MSMQ gets to talk to media.
This statement has made me lose all respect for Shah Mahmood. Musa Gilani had his brother kidnapped by the Taliban, he was obviously distressed and emotional. He must have made that statement without thinking, and I don't blame him at the slightest. Shah Mahmood, isnt of condemning the kidnapping instead decides to attack the Gilani's at the time of their greif. Where has the humanity gone? Putting elections and parties before the lives of people. I remember when Imran Khan fell from the lifter, every one of my facebook friends has their status' dedicated to him. But now that someone has been kidnapped by the Taliban, and he will most probably be killed, everyone is silent over the issue, and people are actually blaming the PPP and Yousaf Raza Gilani for the kidnapping, and other people actually believe its orchastrated to get the sympathy vote. For the people who do believe that, you really need to open your eyes and see beyond these elections and beyond PTI. I'm not saying that Gilani is more important than anyone else, all I'm saying is that when someone has been kidnapped, one should condemn it which PTI has still failed to do. Taliban supporters the lot of them.
Musa Gilani is emotional and hurt and one could understand his anger how ever if he wants to be in a leadership position then he should refrain from threats to the elections."Grief should not be disqualification for rational thought". Elections are held not for one dynastic family but for the people of Pakistan to exercise their rights to vote and elect whom ever they want to elect, may it be Gilanis.My heart goes out to the parents, those who were killed and injured, family and friends, no one should be subjected to such a horrendous, criminal and cowardly act. Those responsible should be brought to justice regardless who they are and punish them according to the laws of the land.No one should be gloating on this sad occasion but pray for his recovery safe and sound.
100s of MQM and ANP workers have been killed, including their election candidates. Elections have not been suspended nor have they demanded anything but extra security due to open extremist threats. I hope Ali Haider is recovered soon though and second SMQ on his point of view.
@Iram: “I will also personally write to the returning officer about my grievances,” he added." . What if, Sattar Edhi writes to the ECP, and lodges a complaint about him being threatened by the PTI boss?
Something fishy going on here. And it now seems that the postponement of the elections are going to favour the liberal parties while the actions of TTP are against the elections. A very deep conspiracy is in the air. May Allah bring him safely back, the younger one of Mr. Gillani.
I share the grief of Gillani family but postponing the elections is not a decision for them to make. They should approach ECP for that and let ECP decide whether elections should go ahead in Multan or not.
Gillani's can boycott election if they wish, or bring out rallies in support of Ali, bring entire Multan to a halt or whatever .. that's their right, but threatening elections is not their jurisdiction.
What if IK's sons were kidnapped would he still feel this elections are free and fair? They are not. This election is a big mokery not all parties have been allowed to campaign freely and as such results will mainly in faviur of pti and pmln. You will soon bear the brunt of ttp once u r in power just like ppp mqm and anp are facing today.
For these political bums their chair is above all the sentiments, humanity and ethical standards. They can sell their mothers (land of Pakistan) for the greed of power. This is paving way for a treasonable intervention. God save Pakistan.
@Aphtab:
I can't understand the logic. The guy's brother gets kidnapped. No one is saying it's a good thing but does that allow him to be a gangster so openly? Who's really being insensitive here? One who thinks that the whole country's progress should be put on hold because of one person or one who puts country in front of emotions? You decide. Actually, you have been deciding. Look where we are today :(
ECP shouldn't take notice of TTP attacks or threats to members of some parties but yes they should take notice of an emotional statement.
@Wrong: Just like you said, two wrongs don't make a right. Stopping the election is also wrong and wouldn't make the situation "right." I don't care who's son. To be honest, sympathies are running low when you see that same old crap leaders have be running again and again. Finally when you think they're about to leave the picture, their generations are preparing to carry the legacy.
If Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shahbaz, Bhuttos and these two Gilani's had any willingness to help, they would not even be getting in the family business.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how wrong it is when same people have been running the country without success and now they want their generation to continue with it.
JUST STOP. WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF IT ALREADY.
Well if a candidate is kidnapped from his Constituency, Can the elections still be held in that constituency?
@Aphtab: How so? He condemned it, what more do you want? Help PPP find this man ASAP.
So Gilanis have become owners of Multan now.
SMQ is justified in his stance.
Musa Gilani
When did you start owning Multan? Remember what happened to those in Pakistan before you who thought they owned the place... the same will happen to you if you do not realize you are not the King of all you survey.
Very insensitive of PTI
Wonder what your statement and stance would've been if it was your son Godforbid, Mr Qureshi? Very irresponsible statement from a senior politician, he should increase pressure on authorities to recover Gilani's son... remember two wrongs dont make a right...
Weren't you in PPP once?
Election should go on.
Fair enough.
Sorry incident but election should not be suspended.