Pakistani Teheek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) vice chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, convened with PTI Chairman Imran Khan at his Zaman Park residence on Wednesday after his release from jail.
Despite the high-profile nature of the meeting and anticipation from the press, no official statement was released, nor did Qureshi interact with reporters post-meeting as was previously promised.
Surprisingly, the normally digitally active PTI and its Chairman remained tight-lipped on their social media platforms, providing only a picture from the meeting. There were numerous rumors regarding Qureshi’s agenda after his release from prison on Tuesday, yet his departure for Karachi post-meeting, without delivering a scheduled press conference, further stirred speculation.
Qureshi, released from Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on May 6, had multiple arrests due to the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. In a candid discussion with the former Prime Minister, he suggested stepping back, considering international travel, or maintaining silence if remaining in the country was preferable.
He also implored the PTI Chairman to allow him and others to resolve existing issues and administer forgiveness. He assured the former Prime Minister that he could reclaim the party’s reins once all was well. Recognizing the challenging times, Qureshi urged the PTI chief to base decisions on wisdom rather than emotions.
Despite the meeting’s wild nature, Qureshi clarified that the PTI Chairman couldn’t rely on retired individuals who might be offering misleading advice in the current circumstances. This sparked a burst of anger from Khan.
After the confrontation, Qureshi departed for Karachi without speaking to the press. His mobile phones were found switched off when attempts were made to contact him for confirmation of these events.
After his spat with Qureshi, the PTI Chairman essentially reiterated his previous statements in a video address.
