Jahangir Tareen fires back at Shah Mahmood Qureshi: I only answer to PM

ISLAMABAD (Pakistan Point News / NNI - 01st April, 2019) Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) leader Jahangir Khan Tareen has fired back at Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and said he goes to official meetings at the behest of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

"I am answerable to the premier alone on political matters," said the PTI leader on Monday, reacting to Qureshi's objection to his presence at official meetings. "Wherever I go, it is on the directives of the prime minister.

"Tareen said it is his right to serve Pakistan and no one, including Qureshi, can deprive him of that right. He also took to Twitter to reaffirm this."There's only one man in my life whom I consider my leader and to whom I'm answerable.

His name is Imran Khan. I've stood by his side through thick and thin and will continue to do so till my last breath, IA. What others may say for their own strange reasons does not concern me," he tweeted.

immediately responding to concerns of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, by stating that it was his fundamental right to serve the interests of Pakistan. "I participate in gatherings in accordance with the premier's will," he said, adding that regarding his involvement in political affairs, he was only answerable to the prime minister.

"Including Shah Mehmood, no one could restrict me," he went on to say.

Earlier, Qureshi expressed reservations over involvement and sittings of Tareen in political meetings by claiming that his actions were pointed out by certain members of the opposition parties.

"Tareen has been disqualified by the court but he sits in official meetings. This offers a chance to the opposition to point finger at the government," the foreign minister said in reply to a journalist's question regarding Tareen's presence at high-level government meetings.

Qureshi asked Tareen to hold himself �a bit' back and said it is due to his behaviour that their opponents get the chance to hold press conferences against the government."Jahangir Tareen Sahab, don't do anything that may cause finger-pointing at your own party's government," he said.

"You sit in official meetings and Marriyum Aurangzeb finds an opportunity hold a press conference against us."Qureshi said he can only ask Tareen, since it is up to him to make a decision. He did say that Tareen has made a lot of sacrifices for the party, he pointed out.

"I can only request while you have to make come up with a decision over the matter," he said, adding, "You may give your advice, however through the back-door.""I am talking on the principles, not against anybody. Questions are raised when you are involved in the [political] matters," he concluded. NNI