My stand cost me my job: Qureshi

Pakistan's outgoing foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, has hinted that he was dropped from the new cabinet because he opposed American pressure to release detained American embassy employee Raymond Davis.

Pakistan's outgoing foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, has hinted that he was dropped from the new cabinet because he opposed American pressure to release detained American embassy employee Raymond Davis. At a farewell reception held at the foreign office on Saturday evening, Qureshi said that he did not bow to pressure from various quarters to declare the detained American technician as a diplomat.

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"He is not a diplomat and I resisted pressure to have him declared as such," said Qureshi, adding "after my refusal the interior minister went on record as saying Raymond was a diplomat." He said he had conveyed his opinion to US State Secretary Hillary Clinton on January 28. Qureshi said that his opinion on the Davis issue cost him his job in the federal cabinet. He said that he was offered another portfolio but he turned down the offer.