Qureshi reveals nothing

LAHORE While keeping his cards close to his chest, former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said he will unveil his future political plan at the public rally to be held in Ghotki on November 27. Qureshi, who left the PPP recently, held over two-hour long meeting with the PML-N President Nawaz Sharif at latters Raiwind residence on Tuesday, but no announcement came from him regarding his joining or not the PML-N. Qureshi held a one-on-one meeting with Nawaz which was later joined by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali Khan. The leaders reportedly discussed prevailing political situation in the country as well as foreign affairs relating to Pakistan, besides pondering over the ways and means to steer the country out of the existing quagmire, created due to the 'mismanagement and 'poor policies of the PPP-led coalition government at the centre. Qureshi expressed conformity with the viewpoint of Nawaz on different issues and expressed his support to the PML-N on various matters yet he abstained making any announcement on the question of his joining the party. Later addressing the media men, Qureshi said he would make announcement regarding his political future at the Ghotki public meeting. He said he supported the stance of the PML-N that the present assemblies have lost their efficacy and sitting therein was useless. Giving a clear indication of his wish for an early election, he said 'Mian Sahib is right in demanding resort to the public as the question has arisen whether or not Pakistan was in safe hands under the PPP-led government. He maintained the government under President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani has lost credibility at the international level which means Pakistan has lost due respect and importance in the international arena which was a matter of serious concern. He also supported inquiry into the Memo episode. Giving an account of the public woes under present political dispensation, he said its time to come out of the assemblies which he said have become useless under the present rulers. Qureshi laid stress on the need for appointing an independent election commission and urged the Supreme Court to supervise the next election in the country. He said the existing judiciary was independent and impartial, and election held under its watch would be acceptable to all as independent election commission alone cannot meet this objective. He asked the Judiciary to play a historic rule in the national interest.

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