News
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Qureshi accuses govt of democratic dictatorship
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: PPP leader and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi blamed his party government for running the country like a democratic dictatorship on Friday.
Qureshi felt that devoted and dedicated party members would revolt due to such practices of the party leadership. He was addressing a press conference at the National Press Club.
The former foreign minister’s continued party membership is under threat. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab chapter recommended that it be terminated after a meeting Qureshi had with Pakisan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif.
According to Qureshi, his meeting with Nawaz Sharif was only a political meeting and was not conducted for him to join PML-N. He questioned how his meeting could be described as a sin when the late Benazir Bhutto had signed a Charter of Democracy with the same PML-N chief. He criticised his removal as foreign minister, stating that people have witnessed the government’s relationships with America deteriorate further with his dismissal, along with increased attacks from Afghanistan. He further said that in such adverse geo-political situations, the absence of a foreign minister in the government’s cabinet shows that the government has not adopted a serious policy regarding international relations.
Qureshi also said that he never consented to stopping the dialogue process with India after the Mumbai attacks, as without one, it would be impossible to solve outstanding issues such as those of Siachen and Kashmir. According to him, the dialogue process would not be successful without resolving these issues.
Qureshi felt that honest party members instated by Benazir Bhutto were being targeted for removal by the party leadership and also targeted the government for failing to maintain peace in Karachi.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk