Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has expressed reservations over the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's disqualified leader Jahangir Tareen for his participation in official meetings. Talking to newsmen here on Monday, Qureshi said: "I would ask my brother [Tareen] to think about this: when you participate in government meetings, it gives [PML-N's] Marriyum Aurangzeb an opportunity to hold a presser and call into question if this [your presence in meetings] is not contempt of court?"
Tareen was disqualified by Supreme Court in December 2017 for misdeclaration under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution - the same provision under which former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was held ineligible for life to hold any public office over the Panama Papers leaks case.
Qureshi advised Tareen to work in the background and avoid official meetings. "I am talking on the principles, not against anybody. Questions are raised when you are involved in the [political] matters," he said.
He brought up Article 62(1)(f), saying "when it applies to Nawaz Sharif, we say he is not eligible for a position in the party or the government but it [this principle] changes for us [PTI]. The PTI worker is mentally unable to accept it," he said.
He also lashed out at the sons of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, predicting that they will soon join Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He claimed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People Party (PPP) have changed their ideologies only in seven months. Both the parties are suffering from inescapable moral dilemma, he added.
Qureshi said Pakistan is a peace loving nation but warned India not to challenge the resolve and determination of its youth. He maintained that country has given a clear message to the world through its response to the Indian aggression that this is not an old but a 'new' Pakistan. He went on to say that Pakistan has registered unparallel successes in the war on terror.
Qureshi said that National Action Plan (NAP) is being implemented to ensure that the country is an abode of peace and stability.
Answering a question, he said doing politics on changing the name of Benazir Income Support Programme is wrong. "Making this an issue is not appropriate, the real thing is service delivery and reaching out to have-nots," he said.
Moreover, Jehangir Tareen via Twitter took a swipe at Qureshi, saying: "There is only one man in my life whom I consider my leader and to whom I am answerable. His name is Imran Khan."
"I have stood by his side through thick and thin and will continue to do so till my last breath, IA. What others may say for their own strange reasons does not concern me," Tareen added.
Last year in October, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had issued notices to the federal government, Tareen and others on a petition against the disqualified politician for convening and chairing an official meeting of top government officials.
The petitioner Chaudhry Shoaib Saleem had asked the court to permanently restrain the prime minister from allowing Tareen to participate in any official meeting in any manner and capacity whatsoever.
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