On Monday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Zain Qureshi clarified that his recent absence was due to his father’s instructions, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, a senior party leader, and not government pressure.
In a video message on X, Zain Qureshi said, “I could never contemplate voting for this constitutional amendment,” Zain stated in a video, addressing rumours of his presence in the National Assembly and support for the amendment as “baseless propaganda.”
Zain explained that his father had directed him to Lahore, where he was involved in another legal matter. According to Zain, his father has consistently opposed the constitutional amendment. “Misleading propaganda is being spread about my support for the constitutional amendment,” he added.
He also expressed his commitment to resign from politics if any proof of him meeting with a government official emerges. “[I] stand by party policy and PTI founder,” Zain affirmed.
Zain’s sister, Meher Bano Qureshi, shared concerns on social media platform X about her brother’s sudden disappearance on the morning of October 16. “We have been praying he is safe and underground. I now fear that he has been abducted,” Meher Bano wrote, citing long-standing threats and pressure aimed at compromising their family’s principles and support for PTI leader Imran Khan.
Addressing queries about why the matter was only highlighted on the day of the legislation, Meher Bano explained that the family was initially not worried as Zain had been instructed to go underground that day. Concerns escalated when rumours of his disappearance began circulating, and he failed to make contact.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Asad Qaiser confirmed that Zain did not vote in favour of the contentious legislation and highlighted the sacrifices made by the party’s imprisoned former vice chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, for the PTI.
