As observed after PTI jalsa in Lahore, the wind has started to blow towards Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Lahore jalsa, as believed by many, had a stimulative effect on political workers, and leaders, of other parties who are currently disgruntled with their top brass and are looking out for options to either jump ships or use as bargaining chips with their current bosses.
PTI’s stance on such turncoats is quite interesting. Initially Imran Khan was very firm that no one without a clean record shall be accepted in PTI. However, now he states that as the party is in formation stage it is open for all with no apparent corruption cases on them, and it would give election tickets to only those candidates who are cleanest of all. Some rephrase this to say PTI is a dry cleaning factory and all who enter it, leave their corruption behind.
One of the recent example of a turncoat joining PTI is Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the ex-Foreign Minister of Pakistan and Senior Leader of PPP. Few days back Shah Mehmood Qureshi resigned from Parliament and left PPP. Imran Khan claimed at that time that Qureshi is going to join PTI soon. Qureshi, a seasoned politician as he is, didn’t showed his cards till the end and played along with Nawaz Sharif, giving away feelers like he is all set to join PML-N. However, on November 27 he announced at Ghotki that he is joining PTI.
This is indeed a big gain for PTI. However, it is yet not certain what is exact status of Shah Mehmood Qureshi in PTI. Will he be #2 to Imran Khan or stand as another Senior Leader?
Syed Mohammad Rashid Shah, grand son of Pir Pagara, has also joined PTI. Marvi Memon is also rumoured to join PTI, most probably in Karachi jalsa on December 25th. She is keenly following PTI and was also seen at Ghotki event.
Imran Khan is against status quo? right? So if Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Hussain Qureshi and Saen Mohammad Rashid Shah are not status quo, then what is it?
