Aamir Liaquat Hussain ‘drops plan’ to join PTI

KARACHI - Renowned TV anchor Dr Aamir Liaquat has dropped his plan to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the last minute after skipping a key press conference scheduled to announce his inclusion in the party, according to media reports.

The former minister of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was due to make a formal announcement with PTI chief Imran Khan today (Wednesday). However, he skipped the presser.

The report by ARY News comes a day after a few PTI leaders claimed the former MQM leader would announce his decision to join the party.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/amir-liaquat-hussain-set-to-join-pti/

Faisal Javed Khan, a leader of Imran Khan’s party, took to Twitter on Tuesday evening, saying, "Dr. Aamir Liaquat to announce joining PTI at a press conference on October 25 in Karachi."

Dr. @AamirLiaquat to announce joining PTI at a press conference on 25th OCT 2017 in Karachi

— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) October 24, 2017

Also the PTI chairman, addressing a press conference in Karachi on Wednesday, said that he was in touch with Aamir Liaquat Hussain and other "opinion makers".

"I am in touch with Aamir Liaquat and met some other opinion makers yesterday," Khan said when asked about the former prominent Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) member.

PTI’s Imran Ismail also acknowledged that Hussain has approached the party and would announce his decision at his (Ismael’s) residence in the port city.

"He (Amir Liaquat) has a following, there is an advantage. He would be useful for any party and will be useful in the election," Ismail told ARY News when asked about whether PTI would consider including Hussain, who has been embroiled in a number of controversies since he emerged as a popular media personality, to its fold.

"If he joins [PTI], he needs to adhere to the party lines. If he does join - and I’m not confirming that he is - and if he crosses a line, we will tell him to hold his horses."

The controversial TV host, who is usually active on Twitter, has remained silent on joining PTI during the whole time.

Aamir Liaquat Hussain, who is also a renowned television celebrity, parted ways with MQM in 2016 after party founder Altaf Hussain made a hate speech on August 22 speech in which he urged his supporters to raise anti-Pakistan slogans and attack media houses.

At that time, Hussain had just rejoined MQM and was vigorously defending party on media since August 22.

Prior to his announcement of quitting the party, Hussain was taken into custody from his office on I.I. Chundrigar Road and later released by the Rangers after overnight detention.

Later, in a media statement, he announced he will never enter into politics again.

Hussain has been working in the media industry for several years now. In 2001, he joined Geo TV where he hosted Aalim Online, a religious program that gained Hussain a large following.

In 2016, Pemra had barred Hussain from hosting a Ramazan show "Inam Ghar" on Geo Entertainment for three days following his June 6 episode in which he had reenacted the suicide of a girl. He recently quit Bol News for unknown reasons.