KARACHI: A close relative of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday announced to join Pakistan Peoples Party. The announcement to join the PPP came from Mir Asim Khan, the son-in-law of late Mian Abbas Sharif who was the brother of Nawaz Sharif. Asim announced to join PPP at a press conference he jointly addressed with Sindh Parliamentary Affairs Minister and PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro. Speaking on the occasion, Mir Asim thanked Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and reposed confidence in his leadership. Khuhro said the PPP did not want to occupy Karachi rather it wanted to win the hearts and minds of people of the city. He said in the past the Karachiites were not free to decide and choose their leadership. He said those days are long gone as people of Karachi are not afraid of anyone any more. He said even the people associated with the Muttahida Quami Movement have started making confessional statements regarding the past misdeeds of their party. Referring to the Faizabad sit-in, he said the people of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have become fed up with the protest by the activists of a religious organization. He said the federal government seems to have become helpless in resolving the sit-in. He said the federal government could seek the support of armed forces if the Islamabad police has failed to wind up the sit-in. To a question about PPP leader Dr Asim Hussain, Nisar Khuhro said he has gone abroad for treatment for six weeks and has not been expelled from the party. Dr Asim will be given party responsibilities on his return to the country, he added.
