SUKKUR, Feb 27: Expressing confidence in the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, former minister for foreign affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that he is not going to launch a new political party and will remain in the PPP.

However, he said that the country needed a new, sincere and honest leadership which could safeguard its sovereignty and honour.

He was talking to the media at Sukkur bypass on Sunday while going to Garhi Khuda Bukhsh Bhutto from his hometown Multan in a motorcade.

Mr Qureshi said that he was not associated with the Pakistan People's Party for the sake of a ministry or designation but was committed to the ideology of the party.

Apparently referring to Raymond Davis case in the wake of which he was sacked as foreign minister, he said congenial relations with the US were in the interest of Pakistan but it did not mean that Americans could kill innocent Pakistanis and then put pressure on Pakistan (to release the killers.)

“Friendly relations do not mean that we have no honour or self-respect.”

He said that Pakistan should adopt a policy which guaranteed its sovereignty and pride.

For this purpose, a new thinking in politics and new, sincere and honest leadership was needed, he said, adding that politics should be cleansed of black sheep and those politicians should be promoted whose hands were clean.

Had Benazir Bhutto been alive today, the position of the country at international level would have been better, he said. Earlier, when Mr Qureshi, who is also the spiritual leader of Ghousia Jamaat and has a sizable number of followers in Sindh, arrived at Kamoon Shaheed, the border area of Sindh and Punjab, he was warmly welcomed by a large number of people.

His motorcade stopped for sometime in Ghotki where he had brief talk with his followers. From there he left for Pano Akil where he attended a lunch hosted by former MPA Sardar Haji Khan Chachar. He also had brief stopovers in Shikarpur, Madeji and other towns before reaching Garhi Khuda Bukhsh Bhutto.

At certain places his motorcade was stopped by people who showered rose petals on him and raised slogans of “Long Live Shah Mehmood Qureshi.”

M.B. Kalhoro adds from Larkana: Talking to journalists in the Garhi, when Mr Qureshi was asked whether a party within the PPP was emerging, he replied in negative and said: “I am in the party, was in the party and will remain in the party,” adding that differences might exist in a family.

On a question, he evaded telling when he would unveil documents about Raymond Davis of which he had talked in a press conference and said that he stood by his point of view which was gradually becoming national stance.