Senate elections 2024: MQM-P 'ready' to induct Faisal Vawda

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Monday expressed willingness to see former federal minister Faisal Vawda join its ranks ahead of the Senate elections set to take place on April 2. Commenting on the upcoming Senate elections, MQM-P's Siddiqui who himself is a candidate for the polls said the party has fielded a total of eight candidates for the upper house.

However, Vawda has reiterated that he's still an "independent" political leader.

"I'm still independent," Vawda said during a presser in Karachi, adding that he would consider joining a political party when it's in "season", as independent candidates are currently trending.

Expressing his views on the political landscape and prospects of the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) role in the Centre, Vawda — who's contesting the Senate elections in an independent capacity — said he doesn't see the Bilawal Bhutto-led party securing power in Islamabad.

Without taking any names, the ex-minister recalled his 14-year-long association with the PTI stressing that both the party and its founder were full of themselves during their time in power.

Vawda, whose party membership was terminated by the PTI in 2022 over his remarks on the party's long march, has been quite vocal in the political arena.

Last week, the ex-minister had termed Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz as "Buzdar II" — a reference to ex-CM Usman Buzdar who served as the province's chief executive during PTI's tenure. Ever since his departure from the PTI, Vawda has often been found critical of former prime minister and party founder Imran Khan.