Imran Khan, Qureshi divided over PTI’s decision to boycot last month’s by-elections

Islamabad, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi has reportedly developed serious differences with party Chairman Imran Khan over his ‘unilateral decision’ to boycott last month’s by-elections.

Qureshi’s home constituency Multan, his only apparent political asset, was taken away by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son.

Some PTI leaders said Qureshi was angry with Imran for letting Gilani’s son win the seat without a contest, and now, the former foreign minister fears future elections would now be a difficult task for him, The Express Tribune reports.

Sources close to Imran and Qureshi said that both leaders had exchanged harsh words over what Qureshi said was a ‘unilateral decision’ made without consulting other party members.

They say the relationship between him and Khan were so tense that Qureshi even threatened to part ways, and contest the upcoming general elections as an independent candidate.

A member of his family said Qureshi sometimes regrets his decision of choosing the PTI over PML-N. PTI officials said the former minister, who had considerable experience of parliamentary and constituency politics, had been trying to convince Imran not to stay away from the polls.

“You need to be in the system to change it,” sources quoted Qureshi as telling Imran.

However, they said Imran was adamant on his decision to boycot the by-elections.