HYDERABAD: Former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal, who named his newly formed political party as 'Pak Sarzameen' a day ago, on Thursday claimed Mutahidda Qaumi Movement chief had "paid an individual in 2013 to establish contact with the then ISI chief Gen Zaheerul Islam."

Speaking to supporters at the inauguration of his party's first political office in Hyderabad, Kamal said:

"Those propagating that we are backed by the establishment, let me tell you something.

In 2013, the MQM chief paid a sum of money to a person, who is still alive, only so that contact with ISI chief Gen Zaheer could be established."

Kamal claimed he knew who Altaf Hussain paid to talk to Gen Zaheer, and the sum of money paid to arrange the conversation.

"I leave it to the public to figure out who the man was."

Earlier, Kamal travelled from Karachi to Hyderabad, where he was welcomed by supporters amidst cheers, to open a political office in the city.

Membership forms of his newly formed party were being filled by supporters in the party office, which has been set up in a residential area of Latifabad unit-6. The property is owned by late MQM activist Naeem Arain, who died in England last year.

Kamal's associates and former MQM leaders, Anis Kaimkhani, Anis Ahmed advocate, Raza Haroon and Wasim Aftab, were also present on the occasion.

Kamal's return

In a dramatic return to Karachi earlier this month after an unexplained absence of almost three years from the political scene, Kamal, in a press conference alongside Anis Kaimkhani, revealed for the first time the reasons behind his controversial exit from the MQM.

Read: Mustafa Kamal decimates MQM chief Altaf, announces new political party.

He criticised the party’s chief Altaf Hussain for "deception" and what he called his poor running of one of Karachi’s strongest political parties.

Kamal then announced the formation of a new political party, which he named as the 'Pak Sarzameen Party' on Mar 23.

Since his arrival, a number of high-profile MQM leaders including Raza Haroon, MPA Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Waseem Aftab, Anis Advocate and MPA Iftikhar Alam, have joined Kamal and supported his diatribe against Altaf Hussain and the MQM.

Also read: Major blow to MQM as Raza Haroon joins Kamal.

The dissidents have levelled serious allegations at the MQM and its chief, including taking funds from Indian spy agency Research & Analysis Wing.