PROFILE: PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001528 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PK PREL SUBJECT: PROFILE: PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI REF: A. ISLAMABAD 872 ¶B. ISLAMABAD 1376 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On March 31, Shah Mehmood Qureshi was sworn into office as Pakistan's new Foreign Minister. Qureshi is a polished and pro-western politician from Punjab; however, he is a longstanding political rival of newly elected Prime Minister Yousef Gillani. Qureshi is a relative newcomer to the PPP, but was appointed by Benazir Bhutto as PPP Punjab President. He has no foreign policy experience to date but is avowedly pro-U.S. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On March 31 Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who previously was a front-runner for the Prime Minister position, was sworn in as Foreign Minister. Beyond leading a delegation of feudal farmers to India to promote trade, he has no foreign policy experience to date, but is avowedly pro-Western and pro-U.S. Career and Personal History -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Benazir Bhutto in early 2007 appointed Qureshi--a relatively junior member of the party's leadership--president of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in Punjab Province. Qureshi and the PPP's new Prime Minister Yousef Gillani are political and spiritual rivals from Multan. When Qureshi initially entered politics in 1985, he joined Nawaz Sharif's party because religious rival Gillani already had joined the PPP. ¶4. (SBU) Qureshi won seats in the Punjab Provincial Assembly under Nawaz's party in 1985, 1988, and 1990. Nawaz made him Punjab's Finance Minister from 1990 to 1993, but then refused to give Qureshi a National Assembly ticket in 1993 because they differed over how to administer the province. Qureshi then left Nawaz to join the PPP and in exchange for switching sides, Qureshi won a National Assembly seat (1993) and became Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs. He lost his seat in 1997 after Nawaz swept the elections. ¶5. (SBU) Qureshi was District Nazim (mayor) of Multan (2001-2002),where he oversaw a number of development projects. He used his influence as a nazim to win reelection to the National Assembly on a PPP ticket (2002-2007). During this time he developed a reputation as a forceful orator and championed strengthening and reforming parliament. ¶6. (SBU) Qureshi was born in Multan on June 22, 1956. He hails from a religious and politically active family and is the hereditary caretaker of two of the city's main Sufi shrines. Qureshi also claims the Sufi spiritual titles of Makdhoom and Pir. Qureshi is married with one son and two daughters. He holds a B.A. from University of the Punjab (1978) and a Masters degree from Cambridge University (1983). He is fluent in Urdu, English, Punjabi, and Seraiki. Qureshi enjoys reading and watching television. ¶7. (SBU) This is an updated unclassified biography. See Ref A for a classified biography. PATTERSON