PTI lawmaker Aamir Liaquat has once again become the centre of a controversy for saying if the government can offer amnesty to the banned TTP group, why not to MQM founder Altaf Hussain.

Liaquat, who has garnered a reputation for controversial statements in the past, uttered the latest one on Friday during the Muhajir Culture Day event in Karachi, according to a video of the event making rounds on social media. The rally started in Karimabad and culminated at the Mazar-e-Quaid. A large number of people had attended the event.

“Never forget, if talks can be held with the Taliban then talks can also be held with [MQM founder] Altaf Hussain,” he said to a charged crowd during the rally. In the video, Liaquat is seen with MQM leader Farooq Sattar who does not respond.

The PTI leader’s statement comes after the government’s amnesty offers to the TTP that ended without any fruitful results as the banned outfit ended the ceasefire that resulted in the murder of cops escorting the polio team in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Separately, the PTI leader also made a video with the same demand and posted it on his Twitter account.

“At the current situation when there are many enemies of Pakistan… in order to end those enemies or getting united against them… can’t we have talks with ‘some people to whom we can bring on the right path,” he said.

Questioning the reasons for talks with PTM leaders and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, he asked why the government was apparently having a “harsh attitude” on Altaf Hussain’s matter. Liaquat offered himself for talks with the MQM founder.

“Talks are being held with everyone, so [kindly] have talks with Altaf Hussain,” his tweet read.

Liaquat is a former member of the MQM and also served as minister of religious affairs until he was expelled from the party in 2008 for his comments fanning sectarian strife in a a TV show.

He then vowed leaving politics until he announced joining the PTI. He contested the 2018 election from Karachi and won his seat. However, he has made several controversial statements, including against the PTI and Imran Khan for ignoring Karachi.

He has also made claims regarding party’s politics, unethical statements for political leaders, harmed Hindu’s feelings and TV show stunts.

In November, the PTI leader attended the joint session of parliament despite reservations with the party. “I have not come here, but brought here and with special care,” he told a reporter of 24 News in reply to a question on attending the session despite concerns.

Such a statement had prompted him to clear the “misunderstandings” that he was brought by the PTI leaders not by “anyone else”.

Earlier in February, the PTI leader had posted a tweet accompanying PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz’s statement “They (government) will now see the second version of me” with the image of a Hindu deity. It prompted a sharp reaction from PTI’s Hindu leaders and asked Liaquat to remove this.

Then, Liaquat had offered an apology and deleted the tweet.

Liaquat, who also hosts a TV show in Ramazan, had done a ‘Nagin dance’ during his show at a private news channel. In the viral video, he could be seen dancing as the show guests kept laughing.