The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Tuesday agreed on the need to replace PPP's Khursheed Shah as leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.

In a meeting in Karachi, the two opposition parties expressed dissatisfaction with the veteran politician and agreed to consult other opposition parties in a bid to replace Shah, who also serves as chairman of the NA Public Accounts Committee.

The parties stopped short of naming a replacement, however, terming media reports regarding PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi's candidature as "premature".

Qureshi led the PTI's delegation which was welcomed by MQM-P leaders Farooq Sattar and Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar. Asad Umar and PTI's local leadership were also present at the meeting.

Qureshi, speaking to the press after the meeting, said that the two parties feared that the PML-N and PPP may collude, threatening their vision of a free and fair election.

If the move is successful, the PTI will play a significant role in important appointments, including that of a new National Accountability Bureau chairman as incumbent NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry will complete his four-year term on Oct 10.

"A divided opposition means that the government will be strengthened," Khursheed Shah said as a response to news of the meeting.