Dr Aamir Liaquat doesn't show up at PTI's 'press conference'

PTI spokesperson says TV host is likely to join the party next month

KARACHI: TV host Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain did not turn up at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)  leader Imran Ismail's residence on Wednesday to announce joining the party contrary to its claim a day earlier.

"He is [Dr Aamir] is likely to join the party next month along with several other prominent figures," PTI spokesperson Dawa Khan Sabir told The Express Tribune.

"However, talks between the PTI and Dr Aamir haven't finalised yet," he added.

Earlier in the day, PTI chief Imran Khan, while speaking at a press conference where Dr Aamir was expected to accompany him, said he was in touch with the TV personality and other opinion makers, but did not elaborate further on the issue.



There are reports that Imran waited for around two hours for Dr Aamir to turn up before going ahead with the press conference.

On Tuesday, PTI’s Faisal Javed Khan had tweeted that Dr Aamir Liaquat was going to announce joining the PTI at a press conference on Wednesday.

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

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

PTI's Ismail had also confirmed the development on his Facebook page.

The TV host had parted ways with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) after a brief detention at Rangers headquarters in August last year.

He was detained along with nine other MQM leaders after party workers attacked media houses following the party’s supremo Altaf Hussain’s ‘anti-Pakistan’ speech.

Speaking to the media the following day, Aamir said he was fed up with the party and the way it functioned and also announced that he was leaving politics for good.

Since then, he has been hosting shows on a private TV channel. He came to fore once again when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) banned him from appearing on national television for ‘preaching hate’, a decision that was challenged by the Sindh High Court (SHC) but later upheld by the apex court of the country.

Aamir has also served as minister of state for religious affairs in Shaukat Aziz’s Cabinet between 2004 and 2007.