KARACHI: Former Karachi mayor and leader of the newly formed Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday announced the induction of Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) member of Sindh Assembly Dilawar Hussain into his party.

Dilawar Hussain, who had been elected MPA from a provincial assembly constituency (PS-110) is the fifth lawmaker to quit the MQM and resign from his assembly seat. The other four lawmakers were Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Iftikhar Alam, Bilqees Mukhtar and Ashfaque Mangi.

Speaking on the occasion, PSP leader Mustafa Kamal said that he is deeply grieved over the plight of families of MQM workers, who are detained by security forces in different cases.

Kamal urged the law enforcement agencies to stop arrests of MQM workers as such acts will not harm MQM but will forward the party chief Altaf Hussain's cause and strengthen him.

Kamal's arrival and formation of PSP

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 a number of former MQM heavyweights 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.