Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Under a strategy, the PML-N-led federal government is fuelling internal differences of the PTI to diffuse its ongoing campaign against the Sharif family in the backdrop of revelations by Panama Papers.

The federal government, through Asif Kirmani, has offered Shah Mehmood Qureshi an important post in case he defects to the PML-N. Qureshi has reportedly kicked off his ‘homework’ in this regard.

Imran Khan has assured Shah Mehmood Qureshi that if PTI wins next
general elections, he will be offered the chief minister’s slot in Punjab. Khan has made the same pledge with Ch Sarwar as well. Sarwar joined the PTI after resigning from the governorship of Punjab.

A day earlier, when media ran reports about offshore business of Jahangir Tareen, Shah Mehmood Qureshi was heard telling a rally in Sindh that all parties should check the corrupt elements in their ranks. “This is not fair to think that those with us are innocent while those in the other camp are dishonest,” he said. Though he didn’t name anyone, but political observers believe that he hinted at Jahangir Tareen.

The PTI leadership has shown its resentment over this statement of Qureshi.

The sources said that Shah Mehmood Qureshi was nowadays seriously thinking to jump the ship. The federal government also seems hell-bent on disturbing PTI’s campaign against Panama leaks by using Qureshi at any cost. Qureshi is trying to give an impression to Imran Khan that a large number of workers are with him, and on the other hand he is exerting pressure on him to curtail the role of Jahangir Tareen, Aleem Khan and Chaudhary Sarwar in the decision-making process within the party.

Qureshi had same kind of problems with the PPP as he was not ready to accept Yousaf Raza Gilani as prime minister. He always tried to dominate as foreign minister by surpassing then President Zardari and Prime Minister Gillani. And when he joined PTI, he always gave tough time to Javed Hashmi.