‘Pakistan’ first: Prominent players of Musharraf’s party join PSP

General Pervez Musharraf's former spokesperson says APML chief was aware of their move

KARACHI: More than a dozen leaders of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), including the spokesperson to party chief General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, joined Mustafa Kamal's Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) on Wednesday.

PML-Nawaz's District West president in Karachi, Syed Aijaz Hussain Shah, also joined the party. At a press conference at Kamal's residence in Defence, the APML leaders from across the country announced their move to join PSP.

Those who have switched loyalties include former MPA and the party's women wing president Naila Imam, Punjab president Dr Farrukh Cheema, former central information secretary and spokesperson Aasia Ishaque and APML Lahore president, among others.



Speaking at the press conference, Ishaque said the former president - currently out of the country to avail medical treatment - was aware of their decision to leave the party en masse and join PSP. "We have taken this step for the country's prosperity and development. We used to work for Pakistan first but Mustafa is working on better perimeters, and is practically working for the country."

Ishaque said Kamal shall find them standing next to him in making this new home, adding that they will not back out. "People will join the party and come from all areas. It won't be one area," she vowed.

RAW links

Kamal said how can [Muttahida Qaumi Movement senior leader] Dr Farooq Sattar talk about international issues. "First he and his party should make public what they have been doing for [Indian intelligence agency] RAW," he demanded.

The innocent people of Karachi who were lured into doing wrong things should be pardoned and a relief and rehabilitation package should be announced for them, he said.

"We hope to bring changes at the earliest for the people. Our offices in six districts in Punjab are functioning," he claimed, adding that this week we will go for a formal office inauguration in Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2016.