*ISLAMABAD: Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)-London leader, SaleemShahzad, has joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Samaa reported Tuesday.*

PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry revealed this in a tweet.

PTI welcomes #SaleemShahzadlink>#Karachi link>pic.twitter.com/zDKqGvmlTj link>

— Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 9, 2018link>

Saleem Shahzad, who was a close aide of MQM founder Altaf Hussain, has yetto formally announce his joining.

In July last year, Shahzad said he may form his own political partylink>,claiming that it will be different from prevailing splinter groups of MQM.

In Feb 2017, he was arrested by police upon his arrival in Karachi fromLondon ending a 24-year self-imposed exile.

Shahzad, a founding member of the MQM, was facing charges of providingtreatment and shelter to alleged terrorists. He was released after fourmonths.