Shah Mehmood has written his political obituary: Firdous

Pakistan

Shah Mehmood has written his political obituary: Firdous

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Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that by quitting PPP, Shah Mehmood has written his political obituary.

15 November,2011 04:08 am

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Monday that by resigning as member of National Assembly and quitting Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had written his political obituary and political wilderness was his destiny.Talking to media, the Information Minister said that the difference of opinion was the beauty of democracy and the PPP leadership had always welcomed positive criticism. But Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been targeting the President of Pakistan and the government policies to only get political mileage, she added.She said that Shah Mehmood Qureshi during his press conference was reading a script written by someone else. She regretted that Shah Mehmood chose the day on which the House was adjourned after paying tribute to Madr-e-Jamhoriat Begum Nusrat Bhutto, to tender his resignation from the National Assembly.Dr Firdous said that his resignation from the Assembly in such a manner was not less than a suicide attack on the democratic set-up.She said that the PPP leadership did not sack Shah Mehmood as it wanted that the masses should know how the people change colours for personal political gains.She said that in the past several leaders quit the PPP but they all lost people’s support and went in political wilderness.Dr Firdous said that PPP was like a family and its workers did not forgive those persons who speak ill of its leadership and taught them a lesson in the next elections.She said that Shah Mehmood was physically with the PPP but mentally he was following his mentor Zia-ul-Haq who had brought him in political arena.”This is not a democratic approach and it will never help promote democratic institutions in the country, rather this approach can destabilise the democracy”, said the minister.About criticism on the personality of President, she said, “the PPP leaders do raise issues at party level, but the way Shah Mehmood criticized the President, it is a sinister effort to damage the party’s image. It is a crime which cannot be pardoned and the PPP workers will settle the score in next elections.”She said by criticizing the President, Shah Mehmood Qureshi has practically showed solidarity with the remnants of dictator Zia-ul-Haq, and dissociated from the policies of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.The Information Minister said that the PPP believed in the power of vote and it would continue its pro-people policies and resignation of one MNA would not hamper its efforts for providing relief to the masses.She also said that the PPP, its workers and its allied political parties would not allow such elements to disrupt the democratic system in the country.Dr Firdous said that Shah Mehmood remained part of the federal cabinet and enjoyed perks and privileges but when he was not given the portfolio of his choice after cabinet reshuffle, he started criticizing the government policies which was hypocritical.