ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: Four independent senators from Fata on Monday left for for London for a meeting with MQM chief Altaf Hussain to discuss the party’s plan to expand its network in tribal areas, a source in the party told Dawn on Monday.

The senators are: Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Eng Rashid Ahmed Khan, Abdul Raziq and Hafiz Abdul Malik Qadri.

The source said Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Babar Khan Ghouri was accompanying the senators.

He said that it was unlikely that the senators would make any formal announcement to join the MQM during the meeting, but they would definitely assure the MQM chief of their support to the party in efforts to expand its network in the tribal areas.

He said the MQM had been trying to remove its label of a regional or urban party for the past many years and had been very successful in its efforts.

He said the party had already set up its offices in Punjab, the NWFP and Azad Kashmir.

He said the MQM wanted to make its presence felt even in the country’s tribal areas.

He said the MQM chief would inquire from Fata senators about the basic problems and issues being faced by people in the area and seek their views as to how the party could help them resolve the issues.