Inside story of Zain Qureshi’s alleged betrayal over ‘constitutional amendments’

ISLAMABAD: Following the allegation of betrayal, PTI lawmaker Zain Qureshi on Monday denied rumors about his presence in the National Assembly during voting for the constitutional amendments.

In a video message shared on X, Zain debunked reports of backing the constitutional tweaks, calling it baseless propaganda.

Read More: How many PTI MNAs defected to vote for constitutional amendments? Here’s complete list

“I disappeared on the orders of my father Shah Mehmood Qureshi, senior party leader, and I could never think of voting for this constitutional amendment,” he said in a statement.

His clarification came hours after several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders claimed that Zain Qureshi sold his conscience. “Qureshi was present in the government lobby and was kept on stand-by and if it was needed, Zain could have voted in favor,” the party parliamentarian including opposition leader Omar Ayub said.

“I am at a safe place,” Zain in a video statement, which was shared by another account before his own added doubts among PTI leadership that the video might be pre-recorded.

A senior party member, who talked with Daily Ausaf on condition of anonymity, said that Zain Qureshi was kept in a safe place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from where he left by himself on October 10, 2024, without telling anyone.

He then stayed in Sargodha and informed party leadership that he was completely safe, the party official said, adding that party leadership became incommunicado with Zain after 2 pm on October 16, 2024.

According to close family sources, Zain Qureshi told the family that the party asked him to go underground and not contact anyone before constitutional amendments.

“After that Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s son disappeared from the public scene and on the same day his wife was also abducted,” family sources said.

In a statement, Qureshi’s sister Mehr Bano stated that the family lost contact with him on the morning of October 16. “We are praying for his safety and hope he is in hiding as per the party’s policy, but I fear he has been kidnapped,” she said.

Informed sources within the party said Qureshi sold his vote and expressed doubts about the abduction of Zain Qureshi’s wife. The party official said that Zain Qureshi might be involved in this matter, adding that Qureshi’s wife and his sister knew nothing. The party official also said that Zain had not attended any party meeting or rally for a long time.

The senior member of PML-N, in a talk with Daily Ausaf, also confirmed that Zain Qureshi would have voted in favor of the amendment if needed.