MULTAN: Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has reaffirmed his steadfast allegiance to the party despite recent defections by fellow members in the past few weeks.
“I stand where I was,” Qureshi firmly stated on Saturday while addressing the media in Multan.
His statement carries significance as several PTI politicians have recently switched sides and joined the newly-formed Istihkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), led by senior politician Jahangir Tareen. Additionally, other members are exploring alternative options or distancing themselves from the party following the disruptive events of May 9.
Qureshi reiterated his stance during his interaction with journalists outside a sessions court in Multan, where he attended the hearing of cases against him related to the May 9 riots.
Last week, the PTI leader criticized Tareen’s party, describing it as “dead on arrival” due to its lackluster launch. “My conscience is satisfied, my hands are clean,” he added.
Qureshi revealed that five fabricated cases were registered against him in Multan, alleging his involvement in vandalism. However, none of the 13 charges mentioned in the FIRs have been proven true.
Addressing the cases, the senior politician emphasized that he was not even present in Multan on the day the incidents took place. “There should be some fear of God in the administration,” he criticized the government’s actions against him in the city.
“I was arrested in Islamabad, went to Adiala Jail, while the cases were registered in Multan,” he explained, highlighting the lack of credibility in the administration’s handling of false cases.
Court Grants Pre-Arrest Bail to Shah Mehmood Qureshi
Qureshi shared that the court has granted him pre-arrest bail, stating, “I was not involved in any vandalism, nor am I in favor of it.”
“I have only engaged in politics of patriotism in the last 40 years. As a foreign minister, I have defended Pakistani institutions around the world,” he asserted.
Referring to the orders issued by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the Islamabad High Court, Qureshi expressed satisfaction, stating, “I felt reassured that there are judges who make decisions based on merit and according to the law.”
The judge had deemed Qureshi’s arrest under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law “illegal” and ordered his release, as he was among the top PTI leaders detained from Islamabad within 24 hours of the outbreak of violent protests by PTI workers following the arrest of party chief Imran Khan on May 9.
