Aamir Liaquat joins PTI, calls it his ‘final destination’

Senior TV actor Abid Ali also announces joining Imran Khan's party

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TV personality and politician Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain has joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at a joint press conference with the party chief, Imran Khan, in Karachi on Monday.

The announcement was made after PTI leader Imran Ismail confirmed on Saturday that Liaquat would join the party. The latter would announce his membership at a news conference with Imran, he had said while speaking to a private TV channel.

Addressing today's press conference flanked by Imran, Liaquat claimed that the PTI will clean sweep the upcoming general elections from Karachi.

“It feels as if I were already a part of the PTI…this party is my final destination,” said the former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader. “I have not joined [Imran] Khan but I have joined Pakistan…our joint struggle will be against corruption,” he added.

Speaking earlier, the PTI chief said that Liaquat represented the ‘youth of Karachi’.

“We want to take people on board to bring change…Pakistan will not prosper until Karachi is developed,” said Imran, adding that “politicians learn from their past [and make the right decisions]”.



Actor Abid Ali also announced joining the PTI on the occasion.

EXPRESS SCREENGRAB

In October last year, the televangelist did not turn up at Ismail’s residence to announce joining the party contrary to its claim a day earlier.

Liaquat had parted ways with the MQM after a brief detention at Rangers headquarters in August 2016.

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

Speaking to the media the following day, Liaquat 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 private TV channels. He came to fore once again when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority banned him from appearing on television for ‘preaching hate’.



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

Imran lambasts PPP, PML-N in Karachi

Earlier today, Imran blamed the Sindh and Punjab police for completely destroying their respective provinces, Express News reported.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have been ruling for the past 20 years,” the PTI chief stated while addressing an event in Karachi.

He said that Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif were all corrupt leaders and that corruption ultimately meets its fate.

Imran is currently in Karachi on a two-day visit.