Ex-envoy to Saudi Arabia joins MQM

Karachi: A former Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced he was joining the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the third largest political party, which mostly represents urban areas and the country's middle class.

Omar Khan Ali Sherzai who served as ambassador to Riyadh until last year, comes from the country's tribal areas and vowed that the MQM would make its way towards tribal areas as well.

"I hope that Altaf Hussain will also lead the tribal people as successfully as he has done here," Sherzai addressing a press conference at the MQM headquarters said.

Ordinary worker

Sherzai said that he would serve the party as an ordinary worker and his joining the party would help lessen the ethnic divide between Urdu speakers and Pashtuns.

"Pashtuns and Mohajirs are brothers and I will work hard to eliminate the misunderstanding between the two communities," Sherzai, who had been a well-reputed diplomat, said.