MULTAN: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf renegade president Javed Hashmi has alleged the party’s vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been holding ‘secret meetings’ with US envoys and other staff of the embassy during early days of the sit-in.

Talking to the media here on Sunday, Mr Hashmi said only Imran Khan was taken into confidence by Mr Qureshi about the details of these meetings.

"The entire party was being kept ignorant of these meetings and when I became aware of this, I questioned the double face of Imran Khan, saying that on one side anti-US speeches are being delivered and at the same time (secret) meetings are being held with the US Embassy officials," he said.

He said though he and Mr Qureshi had tendered their resignations simultaneously, by-elections were being held only in his Multan constituency.

Hashmi said Mr Qureshi should explain why he did not resign from his National Assembly seat despite Imran Khan’s instructions to him to do so immediately after his (Qureshi’s) speech in the house.

"I had told Imran Khan that Shah Mehmood would not resign from his assembly seat. I once again say that Mr Qureshi will not resign even now," he said.

He said retired Gen Ehsan asked Mr Qureshi to join the PTI.

Veteran politician said although he was not in a position to confirm this, he was reliably told that Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar was either present in the London meeting between Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri or was among those who arranged it.

He said Dr Qadri and Imran Khan also held meetings in Pakistan where Mr Qureshi was also present.

Hashmi said while he was with the PTI he refused to join the committee constituted by the party for holding talks with the PAT despite Mr Qureshi’s insistence. The talks were held in the backdrop of Dr Qadri’s threat to end his sit-in if PTI did not join the ‘attack’ on national installations, including the building of Pakistan Television (PTV).

He said he was saddened over Imran khan’s denial regarding his meetings with Mr Qadri in London.

He said that it was shocking for him to know that names of some army generals were being used in party affairs.

"I was about to fall on the ground (with shock) when I heard the party was being run, using names of army generals. I was repenting my decision to join the PTI, but I decided to oppose such non-political acts and that I continued to do till the last," he said. He, however, admitted that he failed in his efforts to check such practices as there was a “very powerful force” behind these acts.

Mr Hashmi said the PML-N leadership had no moral courage to talk to him about his ‘principled stand’ as they were in the grip of fear.

He also alleged that intra-party PTI elections were also rigged to get Mr Qureshi elected its vice president. He said the entire PTI leadership wanted to use Imran Khan who was moving spirit of the party.

"They (PTI leaders) would destroy Imran Khan who may not be left with the ability to do politics even at district level," he said.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2014