Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. — Photo by Online

ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday said that the PPP should not rush into a coalition with the Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q), DawnNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives at the Multan airport, Qureshi said that according to his assessment, a coalition between the PPP and the PML-Q would not last long.

"Most PPP senators and workers are uneasy over the possibility of an alliance with the PML-Q...Raza Rabbani's statement on the issue is also now public," Qureshi said.

He further said that if the PML-Q "really wants" a coalition, then it should focus on assisting the government on getting the budget passed, instead of focusing on ministries and privileges.

Regarding the position of the Deputy Prime Minister, Qureshi said creating the post would lead to conflicts among the government departments as well as the bureaucracy.