ISLAMABAD – Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Saleem Shahzad called on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Tuesday and exchanged views on prevailing political situation.
Following the meeting, PTI’s spokesperson Fawad Chaudhary in a tweet said, “PTI welcomes Saleem Shahzad”.
https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/950715124876275713
However, the PTI’s official statement regarding the meeting did not carry any words regarding the joining of the former MQM leader, who is facing rioting case after he was arrested by Karachi police as he reached country ending years long self-imposed exile.
According to the statement, both leaders have vowed to work jointly for the betterment of the Karachi, the economic hub of Pakistan.
In Dec 2017, Saleem Shahzad announced his decision to set up his own political party under which he will take part in upcoming general elections.
Talking to media outside of the city court, Shahzad said that he aimed at contesting election from Orangi Town, an area of the metropolitan city, adding that candidates of the party would also be fielded in other constituencies.
A division within the MQM had started emerging when the party founder, Altaf Hussain, made anti-Pakistan speech inciting violence in August 2016.
Farooq Sattar, who was considered to be a close aide of Hussain, parted ways with the party and made his own party, MQM-Pakistan. Many other MQM’s lawmakers also left the party and joined hands with Sattar.
Later, former mayor of Karachi, Mustafa Kamal also distanced himself from Hussain after inciting speech case and set up the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP).
Now, Shehzad has decided to enter Karachi’s politics through a new party. He said that everyone except target killers and those involved in China-cutting can become the member of the party.
Shahzad, a close aide of MQM supremo, had been taken into custody by the Karachi police when he landed at Karachi airport from Dubai in February this year after ending 24-year long self-imposed exile. He was wanted by the police in several cases. Later, he was freed from prison in June on bail.
One of the recent allegations against him was leveled by Pakistan Peoples Party leader Dr. Asim Hussain saying that Shahzad had provided shelter to terrorist and facilitated them for medical treatment.
