Pakistan's former foreign minister quits ruling party PPP

Pakistan's former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Monday announced he has parted ways with the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and resigned from the parliamentary seat. Qureshi told a news conference held in Islamabad that he would announce his future political strategy on Nov. 27 at a public meeting in southern Sindh province, the main power base of the PPP. Differences between Qureshi and the PPP had emerged in February when he was denied Foreign Ministry in a cabinet reshuffle. He had refused to accept the portfolio of the Ministry of Water and Power in the new cabinet. Qureshi had been critical at the government's decision to free the CIA undercover agent Raymond Davis who was arrested after he shot dead two Pakistanis in the city of Lahor in February. Qureshi, who belongs to Multan in Punjab, has served as the president of the PPP in Punjab province and also the Central Deputy Secretary General. There had been reports that the PPP may take disciplinary action against Qureshi if he does not clear his position to PPP co- chairman President Asif Ali Zardari. Imran Khan, a sports-turned politician who heads Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice), a party gaining increasing popularity among the younger generation in the country, said that Qureshi would join his party at a public meeting on Nov. 27. Qureshi lashed at President Asif Ali Zardari for what he called deviation from the ideas and philosophy of slain party leader Benazir Bhutto. PPP leaders criticized Qureshi and said his resignation will not affect the party position. But a central PPP leader and senator Safdar Abbasi said that Qureshi's resignation will affect the party, especially in southern Punjab. Another former federal Minister Khawaja Mohammad Hoti also said on Monday that he would also quit his parliament membership in the coming days.