KARACHI: Former Karachi mayor and leader of Pak Sarzameen Party Mustafa Kamal on Monday announced the induction of ex-Senator and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) dissident Mohammad Ali Brohi into the party.

Brohi was also joined by several colleagues who had served as zonal members, zonal in-charges and sector in-charges, Mustafa Kamal said.

"There is no place in Sindh that they are not connected to," Kamal said, highlighting their connection to the province, adding that there had been attempts to exacerbate the urban and rural divide in Sindh.

"When we joined the MQM, we thought it would serve as a bridge for Urdu speaking and Sindhi people," Muhammad Ali Brohi said. After a while it appeared as though the party was dividing the people, he said.

"The entire community was destroyed because of one central figure. Everyone in this country should be as one."

"Our colleagues were given guns and our future generations have been ruined because of this."

Kamal also promised to set up more party offices across Karachi and other cities in Sindh, and announced the party will hold a rally on April 24.

When asked to comment on those who had attacked his convoy in Mirpurkhas, he replied, "One day all those who threw stones at us will present us with flowers."

Kamal said the party's main focus will be on devolving powers to improve infrastructure and facilities.

Kamal's revelations

Earlier in March, when Kamal returned to Pakistan, the MQM dissident unleashed a salvo of bombastic ‘revelations’ against party supremo Altaf Hussain, accusing him of deception, addressing workers while intoxicated and poor running of the MQM.

Since then, the former mayor of Karachi has pulled former MQM heavyweights Advocate Anis, Raza Haroon, Anis Kaimkhani, Dr Sagheer, Iftikhar Alam, Waseem Aftab into his party.

The Pak Sarzameen Party's name was announced on March 23 and since then the party has opened offices in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas.

Advocate Anis and Raza Haroon both have slammed Altaf Hussain, saying the MQM chief is the reason behind party members jumping ship. However, the MQM has denied all allegations regarding the 'minus-Altaf formula' and claims its workers are being 'forced to change loyalties'.

Kamal and his colleagues have not specifically denied these allegations or others that suggest the new party is being backed by 'certain quarters'.

A number of senior MQM members left the country suddenly around the time Kamal returned to Karachi, causing speculation as to the reasons behind their seemingly abrupt departure.