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Pakistan's ex-foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi attends a public meeting in the southern town of Ghotki. -AFP Photo
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ex-foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi joined forces with cricketer-politician Imran Khan Sunday, becoming the most high-profile defector to his growing campaign to win the next general election.
Qureshi made the announcement at a rally led by Khan in the southern town of Ghotki, part of the broad hinterland in the southern province of Sindh and central province of Punjab where the former minister is considered powerful.
“I announce I am joining a movement, which is struggling to win justice for people,” Qureshi said of Khan’s Tehrik-e-Insaaf (Movement for Justice) which is fast emerging as a powerful player in the run-up to elections due early 2013.
Qureshi lost his position as cabinet minister in a February reshuffle. He was offered another portfolio, which he refused, and this month resigned as lawmaker representing the main ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
“Winds of change have now begun,” Qureshi told the rally attended by several thousand supporters 420 kilometres (260 miles) north of Karachi, Pakistan’s port city used by the US to ship supplies to landlocked Afghanistan.
“I am embarking on a new journey and from today onwards, Shah Mehmood is part of your team,” he told Khan to thunderous applause.
Qureshi fell out with President Asif Ali Zardari around the time of the reshuffle and says he withstood pressure to approve diplomatic immunity for a CIA contractor who killed two Pakistanis in Lahore in January.
He used the rally to criticise Zardari, whose five-year mandate expires in 2013, a day after Pakistan was plunged into fresh crisis with the US over accusations that Nato air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the Afghan border.
“They have indulged in loot and plunder,” he said. “The time has come to seek a fresh mandate from the people,” Qureshi added.
Khan, a staunch critic of the US alliance, condemned the Nato strike and demanded that Pakistan order all CIA agents to leave in protest.
“We should raise the issue at the UN Security Council because it was an attack on our country and soldiers,” he said.
“We need not bow before any one. The time has come to build a new Pakistan by introducing a new system reflecting will of the people.”
Any change of guard at the moment will be welcome. All the same a few pertinent questions would not be out of place.
What would he do with all the dirty laundry he is gathering on the way to the top?
What is his take on the USA financial support which is flowing in at the moment?
What is his position on the extension (Is it corruption or not?) of services of the high officers in the land?
What would he do about the blasphemy laws?
Good of you to give us some thoughts on the issues.
Shafiq
I anticipate it will be hard for PTI to cater the power-hidden-wishes of SMQ. SMQ will try to shadow the main figures of PTI who've remained with Khan from the day first. SMQ will definately demand for more!
People are turning away from the corrupt status quo parties, SMQ has made a smart move and kept his political career alive, i cant say the same about Nawaz and Zardari Leagues.
Shah Saheb has taken the right decision at the right time. Nawaz has been tried twice but he flopped. So no use voting this guy to power again. Let's start with a clean slate and Imran has all the abilities and capabilities to govern Punjab for the present and the Federal Government soon thereafter. We wish him God-speed.
Sanity prevailed. SMQ did not join PML-N. Right decision at the right time.
Yet another honourable decision,,,Mr Qureshi,,we the people of Pakistan salute you and welcome you in our ranks. We will support U as long as U support Pakistan and Pakistanis.
I appreciate your decision to not join a party which supports old system
May Allah guide our leaders and give them the vision to get our country on the right track.
Welldone welldone welldone Mr. Qureshi I salute you for your wonderful decision.Start of another blessed day for PTI.
I am happy that Makhdoom Saheb has joined PTI. It is a decission,,a bold one,,must be respected . I believe what Imran Khan stands for is Getting Pakistan the Much Needed Re-Emergence on the International Scene,,An Existence with Dignity & Honour. A Self-Reliant Pakistan with Independent Judiciary & Opportunities to all bsed on Merit & Equality
History repeats itself — Another foreign minister in the history of Pakistan after–1970 and being relieved from the post has started a joined a new political movement — and in his words"" The time has come to build a new Pakistan by introducing a new system reflecting will of the people.
Good match. I hope u two stay together in the long run and continue taking principal stands…
These are people who worship the rising sun,Imran KHAN must be very very careful for accepting the left overs of corrupt politicians!
Congratulations to Imran Khan, All turncoats (Qureshi & Iqbal Jaghra) are now turning to him.
I does not think Imran can bring any change (though he is committed but without a committed team)
Welcome SMQ, imran and yourself can bring us all pakistanis together to get rid of corrupt leaders and their corrupt teams………
History will tell if Shah Mehmood Qureshi has defected to PTI or PTI has defected to the same old feudal politics. Let us not forget that Shah Sahib's non-political name starts with "Makhdoom", hope it doesn't spell "Doom" for the inqilab. I am still hoping against hope for Imran Khan's inqilab.
Glad to see that Shah Mehmood has done the right thing for Pakistan and has chosen to be on the right side of history! Long live PTI and Pakistan!!
Conratulations
Let us hope that the wind of change intiated and sponsored by PTI would get the country out of the total social, political and economical mess due to the feudal and incompetent powers that be.
congratulation every one,especially to SMQ,right time,right decision and right party.
Well i think that Mr Imran Khan is a very nice person, and the whole nation admire him as a great cricketer and also as an anthropologist. His cancer hospital is a sure shot evidence of his good intentions. But frankly speaking i do not consider him fit enough to be a leader of a nation, and specially a country like Pakistan. What we actually need currently is a person who has the ability to quench the aggressiveness in the peoples heart and handle the international matters in a very diplomatic way. And if the people will make any wrong choice in the coming elections then i foresee massive problems as the situation even now is almost out of grip— Any person who can get up and chant a patriotic slogan cannot be elected as the head of the nation—Think profoundly what i have said in my comments, few wise one's might catch a clue—-
Reply to Ayesha Khan's comment:
Maam,
i dont think you need a wise one to catch the clue you are reffering to. in my opinion you are absolutely right with what you have said. however you have not pointed out the person who has the ability to quench the aggressiveness in the peoples heart and handle the international matters in a very diplomatic way. with the previous ones weve had at best conditions would get worse. with IK or any other very nice person with good intentions at worse things wouldnt get worse than this. hence the risk is worth taking. we are already too late in finding the bestest fit you are talking about.
Imran is the only hope left for Pakistan. we have tried the Sharifs and Buttos. i cannot belive how anybody can even consider voting for PPP and PMLs.
I live in USA.I know majority of the Pakistanies will vote for Imran Khan in the upcoming election because he is honest,devoted,educated and has a vision. Look at our neighbors. where they are heading and where we are after 64 years. Our peoples are dying of hunger and diseases while corrupt politicians have nothing else to do except watching their bank balances grow. Sure they know how to feed the hungry masses with empty slogans and pull each other’s legs Do not take my words just check any politician ‘s past and present. Check his bank balance abroad. You will find out the truth.
How did we get here? We have been fooled by these corrupt politicians for too long. Wake up or our next generation will never forgive us.
For some reason ,we people, living abroad feel little extra pain for our beloved country which gave us everything. Now it is our turn to do something in return to make this country a better place for our children and their children.
WHOULD YOU?
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
I pray and hope sincerely, that we, the people of Pakistan, will become one nation and move towards a mutual goal for all Pakistanis no matter what caste,creed or following, to right the wrong that was started after the Quaids death. We are one nation, we should not beg,steal or kill, our religion teaches us different. Lets stand on our own two feet and help each other to walk on the right steps as outlined in our Quran.
Great orator meets meets great statesman.ek aur ek Gyarah.Good luck & god bless!!
Welcome to PTI. Excellent move.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi joins Imran Khan's TIP. Both he and Khan are being branded as a proxies of establishment by the opposition parties. How close they are to establishment and how far from democracy, well does not need a be a genious to figure it out.
great love ik
i expect from you both imran and sain that u must bring many changes in pakistan and shah sain you took the best decision to join p.t.a and save to pakistan from dictators domination .i and whole nation is with you
Easier said than done!!!, especially a chaotic country like pakistan with more problems than the number of people. Good Luck anyway.
another drama lets see where it leads
we welcome shah mehmood to pti.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sahib aap ko bhoot bhoot Mubarak hoo. You have made a very correct decision. Now I am 100% confident the time has come to build a new Pakistan under the partnership of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. I can assure you the entire nation is happy with your decision. CONGRATULATIONS!
The british are propagandizing heavily in favor of Imran Khan. We should ensure that people who are highly educated should become involved in politics. Imran Khan is best suited for awareness, activism and philanthropy and the arts.