Raja Riaz, a former opposition leader in the National Assembly, has alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi was released in June this year after agreeing to work against PTI chief Imran Khan. Riaz, a PTI dissident, made this claim during a recent interview on Geo News’ program “Naya Pakistan.”
Qureshi was among several PTI leaders arrested following riots on May 9, which were triggered by the arrest of Imran Khan in a corruption case. The violent protests led to the departure of prominent PTI leaders such as Fawad Chaudhry, Aamir Mehmood Kiyani, Ali Zaidi, Pervez Khattak, and others from the party.
Riaz questioned Qureshi’s release from jail, stating that he believes there must have been an agreement for his release. Riaz suggested that Qureshi may have agreed, either verbally or in writing, to work against Imran Khan and “minus” him from the party.
In response to Riaz’s claims, Qureshi denied any involvement in such an agreement and questioned the credibility of Raja Riaz’s statements. Qureshi also expressed hope that the newly-appointed caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, will ensure free and fair elections in the country, emphasizing that controversial elections cannot bring stability.
The appointment of Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as caretaker Prime Minister came as an unexpected development. Kakar, a little-known Senator from the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), was chosen following consultations between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Raja Riaz. President Arif Alvi approved the decision.
The allegations made by Raja Riaz highlight the political tensions within PTI and the broader political landscape in Pakistan. The claims of agreements behind Qureshi’s release underscore the complexity of party dynamics and power struggles within the country’s political parties.
As Pakistan prepares for upcoming elections, the situation remains fluid, and the actions and statements of political figures are closely watched for their potential impact on the country’s political landscape.