By Ahmad Noorani

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Sunday formally launched a war against former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi for disobeying President Zardari, not bowing before the Americans and for taking a principled stand strictly in accordance with the Vienna Convention on the Raymond Davis issue.

Two hawkish members of the Zardari camp, both Awans, federal law minister Babar Awan and the new information minister Firdous Ashiq Awan, publicly ridiculed the senior, seasoned and highly respected Shah Mehmood Qureshi and made derogatory and defamatory remarks about him.

It was ironical that those who enjoyed power by dancing to the tunes of Musharraf were attacking one of the biggest opponents of Musharraf’s regime, Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Firdous went to extent of alleging that Qureshi exited the federal cabinet on issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants of former dictator Pervez Musharraf.

On the other hand, Babar Awan also made a stunning statement saying “No ex-minister can make statements on the Raymond Davis issue and only government can do so.”

It is worth mentioning here that Qureshi’s latest interview with The News has established with references of all documents and legal points, especially the clause of Vienna Convention, that there was no blanket immunity for the American killer of two Pakistanis, Raymond Davis. Babar’s statement came after publication of Qureshi’s interview in The News and Jang and with the Geo News.

Babar clearly hinted towards the Qureshi’s statement and tried to deny Qureshi’s information against Raymond. The statement of Babar Awan spread across the country within a few minutes and it became obvious the government will ignore what Qureshi has stated quoting Foreign Office documents and will favour Raymond in the court.

Both Babar Awan and Firdous Ashiq Awan were approached on their contact number and both were available and free. However, after their attendants were informed that The News required versions of both the leaders on whether they were making anti-Qureshi statements at their own or they were ordered by the presidency, both refused to talk to this correspondent.

However, top PPP leaders said that a formal war has been launched and will continue against Qureshi for showing defiance to the top man. The PPP leaders said that already PPP official website shows three members of the CEC as ‘suspended’ for speaking against the top man. They say that there is extreme frustration within all ranks of party for a very repressed and dictatorial environment within the PPP.

Babar Awan’s statement, however, was taken seriously across the country and public demonstrations against American pressure to release Raymond Davis and removal of Shah Mehmood Qureshi erupted, especially in Multan. Babar suddenly issued a new statement to balance the situation. In his new statement Babar said that if America demands release of Raymond, we demand release of Afia Siddiqui.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi who always remained a stanch opponent of former dictator Musharaf was alleged by the Presidency on Sunday for quitting the cabinet only for the reasons that FIA issued arrest warrants for Pervez Musharraf. However, according to facts, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who became district Nazim of the big and important city Multan in 2001 local bodies’ elections, was requested by Pervez Musharraf to support him in his unconstitutional referendum. Qureshi not only declined the request but also forcefully opposed the referendum. When Musharraf visited Multan, Qureshi, even refused to welcome or accompany the all-powerful dictator.

Following the outburst of Babar Awan and Firdus Ashiq Awan, many known and unknown faces of Zardari camp have started issuing statements against Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Sindh law minister and close and personal friend of President Zardari, Ayaz Soomro, alleged that Qureshi has close friendship with Musharraf and he has quit the cabinet in protest over the issuance of Mush’s arrest warrants.

Those who remained close to the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of independent judiciary know Soomro’s background. He didn’t even think about his past while making allegations against a clean person like Qureshi.

Then came ‘highly reputed’ former minister for water and power, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf who also joined Qureshi bashing. After Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, another former minister Qamar-ul-Zaman Kiara made similar allegations against Qureshi.

When everyone is showing his/her loyalty to President Asif Ali Zardari, defence minister Ahmad Mukhtar could not remain behind. He has also joined the anti-Qureshi chorus.

According to the record, it was Qureshi who fought elections as candidate for the post of prime minister against Musharraf’s puppet Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali. The same record shows it was Firdous Ashiq Awan who supported the dictator’s 17th amendment while representing PML-Q while it was Qureshi who had shown defiance against the dictator’s wrongful design of amending the Constitution to cover his unconstitutional acts.

The record of Parliament clearly shows that there was not a single corruption allegation against Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Babar Awan during the last days of Mush regime, when the top PPP leadership was in the process of negotiations with the Musharraf’s team including the then ISI chief, had defended Musharraf many times for many good-doings of dictator during some meeting with this scribe.

“When every political party sits and negotiates with Mush, why you media persons only attack PPP and its top leadership for doing so,” Babar had asked this correspondent in a meeting in his office in Blue Area, Islamabad.
Source: The News
Date:2/14/2011