LAHORE, July 8: As Shah Mahmood Qureshi is showing his options if shunted by the PPP, the party is considering unseating the former foreign minister by sending a reference against him to the Election Commission.

A senior PPP leader told Dawn Mr Qureshi would not only be issued a show-cause notice as a prerequisite to suspend the former federal minister’s party membership for speaking publicly against the party and its leadership, a proposal was also under consideration to rob the politician from Multan of his seat in the National Assembly.

However, the official would not explain the plea to be taken in the reference.

Mr Qureshi told a news conference in Islamabad on Friday that he had at hand offers from the PML-N, PTI and other parties if his party membership was suspended.

The former minister is facing wrath of the party leadership for meeting PML-N patron Nawaz and criticising PPP’s alliance with the PML-Q. He had earlier gone against the party policy by taking a tough line on the Raymond Davis issue that cost him his ministry.

His close friends said Mr Qureshi was thinking of launching his own party, but was advised by his well-wishers not to do so. He then called on the PML-N chief the other day although he did not commit on joining the party.

A PML-N official said Mr Qureshi had claimed in his meeting with Mr Sharif that he had support of at least 10 PPP MNAs, but would not give their names.