MQM's Raza Haroon, Anis Advocate join PPP's ranks

• Development comes ahead of national level polls on February 8.
• Zardari welcomes former MQM leaders to Pakistan Peoples Party. 
• Politicians discuss "Charter of Karachi" for development of port city. 

Senior politicians formerly associated with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Raza Haroon and Anees Advocate, along with their comrades joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Friday, as electioneering picks up pace ahead of the February 8 general elections

The announcement of their affiliation with the PPP came after the duo met former president and party's co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi.

Haroon, who also served as a provincial minister, earlier joined former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal's Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) in 2016, but later left this faction as well. On the other hand, Anees was also an MQM dissident who joined PSP in 2016.

An official statement issued by the PPP on this occasion said that Zardari welcomed Haroon and Anees, who were former members of MQM's Rabita Committee, to the party.

The politicians discussed the "charter of Karachi" regarding the development, establishment of peace and security, and friendly environment in the port city during the meeting.

"[Former] president Asif Ali Zardari said that the PPP's Charter of Karachi will have a far-reaching impact on the future of the city. He said that the PPP is the party of the people of Karachi. We are working to restore the lights which were taken away by the rivals of peace and the merchants of hate," the statement read.

On the occasion, the ex-president mentioned the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's 10-point election agenda, saying that the PPP will bring such developmental projects for Karachi and every other city and town of Pakistan after coming into power, which will provide relief to the common man in this time of inflation.

As the country is about to stage its national-level polls next year in February, the PPP kickstarted the election campaign, with a 10-point agenda laid out by Bilawal on December 27.

Pledging to introduce policies that prioritise people's welfare, the ex-foreign minister announced the plan, which his party is to enforce if they are voted into power by the people in the upcoming polls.