Shah Mehmood Qureshi 'shocked' at Nawaz's speech

E-Paper | April 27, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek--Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he was "shocked" at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's declaration that it was Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan who requested a meeting with General Raheel Sharif.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Qureshi dismissed Nawaz's assertion, terming the government "confused". He stated that the government's stance was a 'volte-face' as compared to what was discussed yesterday.

The PTI leader said the party had responded to the government's negotiation offers in a positive manner. He said the party was open to talks even today.

Speaking shortly after the National Assembly session where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said they have involved the army at the behest of protesting parties, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahir-ur-Qadri said the government had “lied to the whole nation”.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

PTI Long March

Pakistan

Global Fund team may come to inspect ‘HIV mishandling’

Parachinar Airport becomes operational after long hiatus

Jolts from 5.7-magnitude earthquake hit Islamabad, parts of KP: PMD

Khan

Aug 29, 2014 03:27pm

PMLN liars from the very first day

Recommend 0

shuaib

Aug 29, 2014 03:31pm

Please somebody take him to Trauma center!!!. Nominate both TUQ and this guy for the Oscars from Pakistan

Recommend 0

TKhan

Aug 29, 2014 03:35pm

Sharif Brothers are lying even on their own death certificates! I have not read the constitution, but it doesn't protect liars.

Recommend 0

Goga Nalaik

Aug 29, 2014 03:40pm

Shame on Nawaz Shareef and Chaudry Nisar GO NAWZ GO

Recommend 0

AB Shahid

Aug 29, 2014 03:41pm

the whole country is shocked! does the government think we are blind? or deaf? or both?

Recommend 0

Sense

Aug 29, 2014 03:41pm

If IK did not ask for meeting with COAS, then why did he rush to see Gen Raheel as soon as he received the call? Why did he not say that his struggle is for DEMOCRACY and he doesnt want army to get involved into politics..and above all, which UMPIRE was he referring to all long?? His wicked smile said it all... Enough fooling the nation Mr. Khan, pack your bags and leave!!

Recommend 0

Asif Naeem Bhatti

Aug 29, 2014 03:41pm

Wazeer Ay Azam - IMRAN KHAN!

Recommend 0

Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Aug 29, 2014 03:58pm

How low this Nawaz government will go? They are openly lieing to the public. Unbelievable. This current government setup is trying to malign Pakistan Army's image. What is this government agenda?

Recommend 0

M. Saeed Awan

Aug 29, 2014 03:58pm

And the nation is shocked over your meeting with dictator Pervaiz Musharaf. What a dirty you are playing Mr. Qurashi, history will tell.

Recommend 0

@H__3

Aug 29, 2014 04:13pm

We all know the historical relations between the Army and Nawaz Sharif and between the Army and the PTI.

Recommend 0

Z khan

Aug 29, 2014 04:15pm

It was PTI and PAT desire. What option govt has when you don't trust anyone.

Recommend 0

AKB

Aug 29, 2014 04:15pm

Yet another u-turn....

Recommend 0

Napier Mole

Aug 29, 2014 04:16pm

Well, you cant be more brazen faced. It took IK and TUQ only minutes to jump off their high horse and run off on the miltary's call. If there was any shred of democratic idealism in these two, they would have refused to meet the army and would have stated that they would want the matters to be discussed and resolved politically. Every step by PTI and TUQ are proving their anarchist credentials. If any one, the government has come out a winner in this episode by showing continuous restraint and flexibiltiy. It is time military do a commando action and whisk away the saboteurs to an unknown place. Some of the protestors may protest but no himalayas will cry. Those comparing IK with Bhutto are comparing a rat to a lion. Bhutto at least had an intellectual and political background, an asset completley lost to IK - as regards TUQ, he doesnt even deserve a mention.

Recommend 0

ali ahmed

Aug 29, 2014 04:31pm

Nawaz Shareef is heading toward dead end....after his speech in parliament..

Recommend 0

NASAH (USA)

Aug 29, 2014 04:32pm

The 64 dollar question is who invited the army to meddle in this muddle -- looks like both parties did -- Imran and Qadri asked for it--- the Nawaz government approved of it -- to get the crowd off the streets. Both parties share the 'blame' -- IK/TUQ duo most for their undemocratic love to work under the khakis -- NS/N least for compromising the principles of civilian governance Both should be forgiven -- IK & TUQ for using the army to save their battered faces -- Nawaz and Nisar to forgo parliamentary principles for the 'necessity' of clearing the streets by any means. One thing is clear -- the professional army this time did not jump in on its own entirely. And that is good. What matters really -- this theater of the absurd that has overplayed itself to ad nauseam -- that is hurting the country badly -- is OVER without shedding a drop of BLOOD -- returning the country to normalcy.

Recommend 0

saad

Aug 29, 2014 05:18pm

Had u given the positive response, yr staged crisis would have over by this time. good acting by the way.

Recommend 0

NadeemKhan

Aug 29, 2014 05:24pm

UTURN party is shocked - that is not a surpris

Recommend 0

JAVED RAHMAN

Aug 29, 2014 05:31pm

Don't hold Pakistan as hostage, if real people will come out they will sweep your supporters like flood.

Recommend 0

M J Syed

Aug 29, 2014 06:03pm

And we should believe you Mr. Qureshi? All but all of you politicians lie. Not NS, not Zardari, not IK, not TUQ and certainly not you can and will protect ordinary people. Only democracy, a proper one, can. We don't have it but we were inching towards that until you guys decided to disrupt. So in my humble opinion you, the Inqlabis and the Marchers are the biggest culprits. Please go away.

Recommend 0

dil e muslim

Aug 29, 2014 06:22pm

Shah Jee shocks and Nawaz rocks.

Recommend 0

OxfordUK

Aug 29, 2014 07:13pm

@Sense He rushed to the army because NS's incompetency would have got him nowhere. He wants a solution and this whole drama proves how incompetent PMLN is. If they can't deal with there own Urdu speaking people do you really trust them to deal with international affairs. I think this whole episode is an eye opener for General Shareef as well. How can he let such a PM run the show???

Recommend 0

JackDomm

Aug 29, 2014 07:20pm

Something called conscience! MNS?

Recommend 0

Atam Vetta

Aug 29, 2014 07:39pm

Something went wrong in the education of Pak children as the politeness that existed during the British Raj seems to have gone. Even a Pakistani leader educated at Oxford, a cultured city, cannot find words to abuse opponents with extreme politeness. It is not true that English is the only language that allows one person to insult another without being outwardly offensive. I ask M/s Khan and Qadri "tum hi bataou kay yeh andaz-e-guftgoo kiya hai?" (Ghalib)

Recommend 0

Naeem

Aug 29, 2014 08:55pm

IK and TUQ have done enough damage. Pack up and leave. Enough of ranting and raving.

Recommend 0

Mohammad Khan

Aug 29, 2014 09:00pm

Finally Nawaz flipped after the parliament,Now what Mr Khurshid Shah has to say,does he has any credibility ?

Recommend 0

Ahmer

Aug 29, 2014 10:03pm

Lying to Parliament is a serious crime in most countries.

Recommend 0

Lucky Star

Aug 30, 2014 04:52am

@Asif Naeem Bhatti In your dreams!

Recommend 0

Lucky Star

Aug 30, 2014 04:52am

@Ahmer Yeah right!

Recommend 0

Farooq Miana

Sep 03, 2014 03:43pm

@JAVED RAHMAN : bring them out.....

Recommend 0

Branded Content

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.

NTL and Unikrew Solutions establish additional strategic understanding for potential transformation opportunities

Collaboration brings together complementary strengths to jointly pursue high-impact opportunities in Pakistan and international markets.

Indus Cloud signs strategic partnership agreement with PTCL to deliver cloud excellence

The partnership marks a significant step in Indus Cloud’s and PTCL’s joint efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s cloud and data centre infrastructure and expand access to enterprise-grade digital services in the country.