An Express News screengrab of Pak Sarzameen Party leader Mustafa Kamal (L) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA Ashfaq Mangi (R) addressing a news conference in Karachi on April 18, 2016.
Development comes over a week after two former leaders of MQM's student wing APMSO, along with several workers, joined former Karachi mayor's party.
Mangi was elected from Sindh Assembly's PS-127 constituency in the 2013 general elections, and is also a former member of the party's Rabita Committee.
Upon his arrival at Kamal's Karachi residence, he was received by senior PSP leadership, including Anis Ahmed Advocate, Anis Kaimkhani and Raza Haroon.
Former APMSO leaders, workers join Mustafa Kamal’s party
“I welcome Ashfaq Mangi and all other former members of MQM in the PSP. Our aim is to forge unity among people and bring those, divided along the lines of sectarianism and hatred, together,” Kamal said while addressing a press conference at his Clifton residence.
“Besides prominent personalities, thousands of people have been becoming a part of the PSP since its formation. There are countless people who are in contact with us, even those who are making a lot of noise."
The MQM dissident claimed his party was taking forward its agenda of strengthening security, creating jobs and alleviating poverty in the country as he challenged the MQM supremo to list down things he had done for the nation.
“If the nation continues to support him, we will also accept his legitimacy,” Kamal said.
Another defection: Woman who broke locks at Nine-Zero in ’92 jumps ship
Meanwhile, Mangi said he decided to join the PSP after shocking revelations of MQM’s alleged connivance with Indian spy agency, RAW were made.
“We really regretted when we were labelled as agents of RAW,” he said.
“First, I decided to give up politics but then as I got to know how thousands of people were joining PSP, me and my companions decided to stand with the truth."
He said people from Thatta to Kashmore, including Jacobabad zonal in-charge were also joining the PSP.
The PSP was formed by the former Karachi mayor upon returning to Pakistan from self-imposed exile on March 3.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ