Pakistan's former foreign minister will announce he is joining Imran Khan's political team on Sunday, according to a senior party source, as the former cricketer's campaign to become prime minister continues to gather momentum.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi resigned from the government earlier this year and has kept the country guessing about which opposition party he would back. Pundits have described him as a potential "game changer" and his capture makes him the biggest name so far to join Khan, who has spent 15 years trying to elbow his way between the more established parties.
"Mr Qureshi likes to keep his cards close to his chest and is keeping everything under wraps until his rally on Sunday so that he can announce it with a bit of theatre," said a source in Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or Movement for Justice party.
Imran Khan’s status as the captain who won the cricket World Cup for Pakistan in 1992 and his stance on corruption have attracted large numbers of young, urban Pakistanis who have grown tired of politics based on family dynasties and backroom deals. However, Khan has never managed to shake off allegations that he is backed by the military.
Khan declined to confirm that Qureshi would join his party. But he added: "Qureshi has a reputation for being clean and free from corruption so there is only one party he can join without ruining that reputation."
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