Qureshi keeps options open

Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi continues to keep his options open after leaving the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) with all his cards close to his chest, leaving the politicians and analysts guessing whether he will join the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) or Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) or form his own group in the near future.
Though PTI Chairman Imran Khan had publicly said that Qureshi would join him at the Ghotki public gathering on November 27, the latter continues to remain tight-lipped and also met the PML-N top brass in Lahore on Tuesday.
A source told Pakistan Today that after having a result-less meeting with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, Qureshi held a quiet meeting with Imran Khan and informed him about his future plans. Some other politicians were also present. After the meeting, Imran told reporters that Qureshi was an honest politician but he was free to take his political decisions independently – clearly hinting that Qureshi might delay joining the PTI. However, when contacted, the former foreign minister avoided comment on his meeting with Imran, saying he was busy with a family function. It has also been learnt that Imran will visit Sadiqabad on November 26, where some more politicians will join his party. A source told Pakistan Today that a political alliance of two Makhdoom families of the south is also emerging, with the engagement of Qureshi’s son with the daughter of Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood.
In line with the traditions of southern Punjab, both spiritual families are also mulling the option to form an independent group for a possible seat adjustment with the PTI and PML-N against the PPP to shatter the myth that Southern Punjab and Sindh belong to the ruling party. The source said that because of the quickly changing political situation, Qureshi might not unfold his political plan on the 27th at Ghotki as announced earlier, and rather it was likely that the decision might be delayed for some time.
Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood has also met Nawaz Sharif but did not make any decision on his future political strategy. Though some PML-N leaders have been claiming that Qureshi and Mahmood would join their party, the two Makhdooms continue to weigh their options.