Former MQM leader Saleem Shahzad announces to form new party

KARACHI: Former senior leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Saleem Shahzad on Saturday announced to set a new political party to contest upcoming General Elections 2018.

Talking to press outside the City Court here, the erstwhile MQM leader unveiled his intention of contesting the next general elections with a new political party from Karachi’s Orangi Town constituency.

Expressing his plans, Shahzad said his party would also field candidates in other constituencies of the city.

Referring to splinter parties of MQM, he said he was not willing to join any of them. “Obviously I need a platform,” he added.

He said everyone is welcomed in his party other than those involved in ‘China Cutting’ and ‘target killings’. “No aspirant of dry cleaning would get party ticket,” he underlined.

He also announced to hold a public rally in Orangi Town on December 16.

Shahzad was among many MQM leaders who had distanced themselves with the party founder Altaf Hussain following his Aug 14, 2016’s “anti-Pakistan” speech.

A week after MQM founder Altaf Hussain’s speech that stirred a hornet’s nest in Pakistan, Shahzad had announced to return to Pakistan with an aim to ‘strengthen’ MQM’s breakaway faction – MQM Pakistan – led by party leader Farooq Sattar.

Alongside Shahzad, the warrants were also issued against Pakistan Peoples Party’s Abdul Qadir Patel and Anees Qaimkhani, who is now a leader of the Pak Sarzameen Party, in a case related to providing treatment and shelter to alleged terrorists.