Building contacts: Shalimar Group’s chairman joins the MQM

A chartered accountant with experience in the agriculture industry also joined the party.

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) welcomed two new members to its roster on Saturday - Mian Mohammad Atique, the chairman of the Shalimar Group of Companies and a former senior vice president of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, and Mohammad Salahuddin.

The latter is a chartered account by profession, who has experience in the agriculture sector and the construction industry and currently works in the petroleum and energy sector.

The new members were announced at a press conference at the MQM’s headquarters, Nine Zero, in Azizabad, where MQM Coordination Committee member and MPA Raza Haroon welcomed them to the party.

Atique said this was “one of the most important days of his life.”

He paid tribute to MQM chief Altaf Hussain, and said the MQM was the only party which could bring political, economic and social stability to Pakistan.

He also said that they would also work to clarify the misconceptions about the MQM in Punjab.

Salahuddin said the MQM was the only party that could help the people. He said he could contribute his experience and knowledge of the agriculture and energy sectors to the MQM, and believes the energy crisis in the country can be solved.

Atique also appealed to the people to study the manifestos of all political parties and evaluate their performance and then join them, but he did not doubt that the only party that has practically worked is the MQM.

When asked why he had not joined any other party, Atique said that he and his friends have witnessed and believe that only Hussain can bring a change. He said he does not desire a political post.

The two businessmen are the latest to join the party. Umer Khan Ali Sherzai, Pakistan’s former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, joined the MQM on January 17.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2012.