Qureshi quits PPP, NA memberships

MULTAN: Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Monday resigned from Pakistan People's Party (PPP) as well as National Assembly memberships, Geo News reported.

" My association with PPP goes back a long time and today it is coming to end," Qureshi said while addressing a press conference here.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he would make more significant announcements about future course of action on November 27.

He said PPP was no longer a party of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto; 'it is now Zardari league'. He said he did not want to be a part of Zardari league and announced to resign from the party membership.

"Zardari buried the politics of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto along with her," Qureshi regretted, adding Zardari has deviated from Benazir's vision.

He also announced to resign from MNA seat.

Expressing concern over PPP alliance with PML-Q, former minister said it is against Charter of Democracy (CoD).

Regarding Mansoor Ijaz's allegations against President Zardari, he said if there was no substance in these allegations then President Zardari should have a legal notice taken against it. The Supreme Court should also take notice of the President's letter written to the US officials, he said.

He claimed he had accepted the position of Foreign Minister on the insistence of President Zardari, or rather 'I was the only one who was not interested to take any such position'.

The former minister called upon the opposition to resign for paving the way for fresh polls and then go to the people for their mandate.