Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday flared up when a reporter in Multan asked him whether ‘estranged’ Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Khan Tareen’s plane was used for PPP’s Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Talking to the media in Multan, Qureshi stated categorically that all members of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) were bound by the party discipline.
He counselled those raising hue and cry over the alleged victimization of Jahangir Khan Tareen to resign if they were not feeling comfortable in the PTI.
Qureshi dispelled the impression that independents were forced to join the PTI after the 2018 general elections.
Talking to the media, he said they had joined the party of their free will. “If somebody has doubts, he or she should better talk to Prime Minister Imran Khan,” he said, and added that the latter would listen to their objections with patience.
The FM said only today PTI members supporting Tareen had made it clear they had no plans to form a forward bloc.
Qureshi told newsmen that the prime minister did not intend to victimize anybody.
He said the recent events showed that the accountability process was not one-sided. “Courts are independent. Go and prove yourself innocent in the eyes of the law,” he said while referring to those alleging victimization in the name of accountability.
He dispelled the impression that the PTI government was panicky or in a hurry. “Prime Minister Imran is sticking to his ideology, and he would not compromise on corruption,” the foreign minister stated emphatically.
He informed that a special amount would be allocated for south Punjab in the next Punjab budget.
He told newsmen that the prime minister had approved funds of billions of rupees under Ramadan Relief Package. “Funds totaling Rs700 million have been released for the south Punjab secretariat,” Qureshi disclosed.
Pakistan ‘ready’ for talks with India
Qureshi said Pakistan was ready for dialogue if India ensured conducive environment. Qureshi said Kashmir was the main hurdle in talks with India, adding that he would be ready to go to Delhi for talks if India would stop brutalities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).
He said there were issues with India including Kashmir, Siachen, Water, Sir Creek and others. He said that dialogues would only be possible when India would show some flexibility, adding that Pakistan was not in a hurry.
The foreign minister stated that war was not solution of issues rather dialogue should be conducted to settle problems between both the countries.
Bharatiya Janata Party government could not change the ideology and feelings of the Kashmiri people, the minister said adding, the whole world including European Union, and international human rights organizations were raising questions over India.
Qureshi said he and Indian foreign minister were together at Doshumbe recently but he (Qureshi) did not express any wish for conversation with his Indian counterpart. He said that the recent ceasefire with India was benefiting people across LOC (Line of Control).
He said Pakistan had opened the Kartarpur Corridor as goodwill gesture and would be ready to welcome the Sikh community for ‘Vaisakhi’ if the Indian government would allow them.
To a question about recent visit of Russian Foreign Minister to Pakistan, Qureshi said both the countries decided to further cement their ties. He said a meeting would be held at Moscow this year to promote economic relations and the prime minister has issued special directives for its preparations.
Qureshi said Russia has offered cooperation in defence, and provision of equipment to enhance counter terrorism capacity, adding that Russia has also offered cooperation for uplift of railways infrastructure, energy sector and revival of steel mills which was installed by Russia.
The foreign minister said Russia fully supported Pakistan’s strategy towards Afghanistan.
Due to our successful foreign policy Pakistan also enjoyed good relations with Central Asian republics, he said.
To a question regarding the issue of Pakistani parliamentary delegation’s aeroplane landing in Afghanistan, Qureshi said the delegation led by speaker National Assembly was going to Kabul as a goodwill gesture and added that he has not yet talked with speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser.
However, the Afghanistan government took notice of the issue and initial reports suggested there was a security issue. He said that Pakistan wanted friendship, peace and stability there and a prosperous and developed Afghanistan.