Qureshi to launch 'Pakistan Bachao Tehreek' from Ghotki

RECORDER REPORT

MULTAN: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) central leader and former foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that he would launch his "Pakistan Bachao Tehreek" from Ghotki (Sindh) on November 27 and he will make an announcement about his political future at a big public meeting that day. Talking to newsmen here on Thursday Shah Mehmood Qureshi categorically stated that he would not become a part of "garbage". His close circles disclosed to this scribe here that Mehmood Qureshi had decided to bid farewell to Pakistan People's Party (PPP). However, he has been mulling over three options and has started consultations on these options with his comrades, political supporters, legislators and followers, belonging to South Punjab and Interior Sindh. He said the options are to join PML-N, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or to work independently on political horizons. His close circles informed that Mehmood Qureshi had been invited by PML-N Patron-in-Chief Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Syed Munawar Hassan to join their respective parties. On the other hand, his only son Makhdoomzada Zain Qureshi who has returned from the United States upon completion of his studies, is a staunch supporter of Imran Khan and was also seen on the stage during the PTI public meeting in Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore. Moreover, some of his supporters were reportedly interested and want that Shah Mehmood Qureshi should rejoin his mother party the PML-N. It has also been learnt that PTI Chairman Imran Khan desires to see his party taking routes in South Punjab and Interior Sindh where the party has failed to make any ground so far. While Mehmood Qureshi has been in close contact with prominent political heavy weights of these regions besides enjoying the support of thousands of devotees.

The PTI sources told this scribe that if Shah Mehmood Qureshi decided to join the PTI then he would be given the responsibilities to organise the party in rural Pakistan. Meanwhile, another report says that Shah Mehmood Qureshi was annoyed with PPP leadership for introducing Rai Mansab Ali Khan, Ex-MPA a candidate against him from his home constituency whom Benazir disliked, as he had ditched the party in dictator Musharraf era.