ISLAMABAD May 7: The federal minister for tourism, Nilofar Bakhtiar, who got away somewhat from the limelight, last week, when the ruling PML-Q removed her from the office of president of the women’s wing, continues to receive support from various party leaders.

She called on the PML-Q secretary general, Senator Mushahid Hussain, one of those who had opposed her ouster, on Monday and exchanged views on a number of issues, particularly women’s rights and the promotion of tourism, according to a party news release issued afterwards.

Senator Hussain, who had opposed her replacement on the basis of the surfacing of objectionable photographs, warmly praised Ms Bakhtiar as “a person with tremendous leadership qualities and courage who has always worked for the promotion, preservation and protection of women’s rights.”

His praise for the “condemned” leader meant that he still believed that her ouster was not correct, party sources claimed.

He especially cited the role of Ms Bakhtiar during her tenure as president of the PML-Q’s women’s wing, stating that because of her “dynamism and hard work, the PML-Q’s women’s wing was transformed into the backbone of the party and a pillar of strength, and she emerged as a brave role model for women.”

He also praised her role as minister for women’s development where she was the “architect of legislation for women’s rights” as well as her role as minister for tourism.

He also condemned what he termed an “insidious, negative campaign of character-assassination” against her and said the PML-Q was proud to have Ms Bakhtiar as one of its foremost leaders and she was not only an asset to the party but also a national asset.

Mr Hussain concluded that the PML-Q would always stand by Ms Bakhtiar as she had always stood by the party. Ms Bakhtiar thanked the PML-Q leadership —both the president and secretary general— for providing support to her.