KARACHI: Imtiaz Sheikh, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) and member of the Sindh Assembly, said on Thursday that he had decided to join the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The statement confirmed speculation that his relations with the PML-F leadership were strained and that his contacts with PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardri were growing.

A statement issued by the PPP media cell said Mr Sheikh had made public his intention to quit the PML-F and join PPP after meeting Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the party chief, and Asif Ali Zardari in London.

“The PPP leadership and workers welcome Imtiaz Sheikh on joining PPP,” said the statement. “Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh called on PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in London today (Thursday) and joined PPP.”

Political circles in Sindh saw the move as part of the PPP’s recent attempts to strengthen its senior cadre. A close friend of Mr Sheikh said he would soon resign from the Sindh Assembly seat which he had won on a PML-F ticket and quit the office of special assistant to prime minister which he held due to the PML-F’s coalition with PML-N in the centre.

“It’s not the first time that Imtiaz Sheikh has attempted to join the PPP,” said another leader aware of the history of contacts between Mr Sheikh and the PPP leadership. “But before Thursday’s development, a certain segment in the PPP resisted his inclusion and it was Faryal Talpur who, on the basis of senior workers’ opinion, opposed his entry to the party.

“However, in recent times he developed contacts with Mr Zardari and ultimately managed to convince him about his utility.”

Mr Sheikh, his friend added, believed that the PPP was a better choice for those who wanted to remain a part of power politics. Furthermore, he felt “ignored and discarded” by the PML-F leadership. He had not been even attending party meetings and other activities for the past one year.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2016