Daily Times

KARACHI: TV-anchor-turned-politician Aamir Liaqat Hussain, who ran a smear campaign against five bloggers who remained in enforced disappearance last year, also inciting violence against them, has joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Liaquat made the announcement during a press conference in Karachi. PTI chairman Imran Khan, and party leader Imran Ismail were also present.

While talking to the media, Liaquat said, “I had joined PTI before but am formally announcing the decision today,” He assured the gathering that he would not leave the party to join another party in future.

Imran Khan welcomed Aamir Liaquat Hussain into the party, saying that people of Karachi should give PTI a chance to return the charm of the city, adding that he wanted more people like Aamir Liaquat to join PTI.

Meanwhile, veteran film and TV artist Abid Ali also announced his decision to join PTI on Monday.

Commenting on his decision to join the party, many PTI workers expressed their displeasure over the leadership for letting Liaquat join the party.

Babar Khan, a local PTI leader, said PTI chairman Imran Khan should let only those with a good repute join the party.

While talking to Daily Times, PTI workers said they were not happy with the decision of the leadership, because Liaqat did not enjoy a good reputation in the city. “How can we let him bypass senior members and take up a leadership role in the party?” they asked. Separately, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said on Monday that with his party’s success in the upcoming election, he would lead Pakistan into a new corruption-free era.

“I will be your captain and you will be my team in the upcoming general elections,” he told party workers during a public gathering in Karachi.

Published in Daily Times, March 20^th 2018.