In a turnaround effort, sources claimed, the loyalty of detained Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi – who according to Chairman Imran Khan will lead the party in the event of his incapacitation – is key to the party. The renegade met him in Adiala Jail on Wednesday.
A delegation of Tehreek-e-Insaf defectors, including senior party leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail, Mehmood Maulvi and Aamir Kayani, met Qureshi in jail and tried to convince him to part ways with the ousted prime minister. who were removed from office by non-voting. Trust in April last year, informed sources confirmed.
Addressing a press conference after meeting the detained PTI leader, Fawad – once a close aide of Khan – said 250 million people were at the mercy of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) allies. But cannot be left. The alliance led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of Jamiat Ulema Islam (F).
He added that 25 crore people cannot be left at the mercy of [Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman] Asif Ali Zardari and [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo] Nawaz Sharif.
Fawad Chaudhry was addressing the press conference along with former PTI leader Ismail and Maulvi. “We understand that those involved in the events of May 9 will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.”
The former PTI leader said that in the absence of an active opposition, the current government cannot be given an open field. He made these remarks amid rumors of the launch of a new political party in the country, mostly made up of defectors from the former ruling party.
On 24 May, the former information minister announced “taking a break from politics” and parting ways with the PTI chairman following the May 9 debacle when party workers and supporters attacked public and military installations across the country.
The former PTI leader said that he had contacted Ali Hyder Zaidi, Pervez Khattak, Asad Umar, Atif Khan, Farrukh Habib and other leaders, adding that he wanted to move towards a ‘stable solution’.
Referring to the May 9 riots, the leader said it was their collective responsibility to prevent chaos from happening. He further said that it is also his responsibility to release innocent party workers from jails.
Despite calling his May 27 presser his “last political press conference”, former Sindh governor and PTI leader Imran Ismail was with Fawad during the presser.
While announcing his separation from the party, Ismail condemned the May 9 protests and spoke in support of the Pakistan Army. He also criticized the anti-establishment of the former ruling party. He also announced to quit politics.
Aamir Kayani – who was among those who met Qureshi in jail – announced on May 17 that he was quitting politics along with the PTI.
Reacting to the PTI quitters’ presser, Asad Qaiser categorically rejected Fawad’s claim saying that he had no contact with Fawad Chaudhry.
Several other PTI leaders have also denied his claims of links.
‘Shah Mahmood Qureshi is Vice-Chairman of PTI’
After the PTI defectors’ press conference, Qureshi’s son Zain Qureshi dismissed the impression that his father would defect from Khan or the party.
His son clarified that Shah Mehmood Qureshi is the vice chairman of PTI.
