MQM-P faces another setback as Qaimkhani jumps ship to PSP

Days after Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan's (MQM-P) senior leader Shabbir Qaimkhani announced his decision to leave the party, he officially joined rival Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) on Saturday.

In a joint presser, PSP Chief Mustafa Kamal formally welcomed Qaimkhani to the party. Kamal said that all those who had joined his party had not regretted and wished that they had joined PSP earlier. He added that Qaimkhani's anxieties before joining PSP would be answered as PSP was a party that did not disrespect its member.  "PSP was a solid rock where each member was united."

MQM-P faced a major blow after Qaimkhani announced his decision on April 4 of quitting the party amid the ongoing rift within the party ranks - Bahadurabad faction and PIB faction. Qaimkhani said that he was depressed at the current scenario of his party and had decided to leave it.

In February, the Rabita Committee member had announced to withdraw his candidacy and was no longer running candidate for Senate. Qaimkhani said he had been unanimously nominated by the Rabita Committee but MQM-P's Dr Farooq Sattar replaced his name with Kamran Tessori. “I do not want any Senatorship that has no respect,” he said.