Ex-MQM leader Saleem Shahzad passes away

Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founding member Saleem Shahzad breathed his last at a hospital in London on Sunday.

Shahzad was undergoing treatment for cancer in London. He is survived by his wife and five daughters, The Dawn reported.

According to his family, Shehzad has been suffering from liver and kidney cancer since 2015.

He was living in London since 1992 after he fled Pakistan, following a crackdown on the MQM party, led by Altaf Hussain.

Shahzad first made his foray into politics as a member of the Mohajir Student Organisation in 1979 during his college days.

In 1984, he was elected as the vice-chairman of the newly-formed Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM). Three years later, Shahzad became a councillor in the local body elections.

In 2006, he wrote a book called 'Shahoor Ka Safar', which talks about the creation and growth of MQM in the late 1970s to early 1990s.

In February last year, Shehzad, who was wanted in several cases, was arrested upon his arrival at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport. It was his first visit to Pakistan after 22 years. After appearing before the court, he was released in June, Express Tribune reported.

Following his release, he left for London to continue his medical treatment.

In December last year, Shahzad announced that he would float a new political party "free of China-cutters and target killers" ahead of the general elections on July 25, 2018.

In January this year, Shahzad announced that he would be joining Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.