Former Quetta Nazim Malik Khuda Bakhsh Lehri has joined the Pakistan Peoples Party, saying that he was associating with a party that values its workers.

“I am associating with a party, which has a history and commitment with the workers,” he said at a formal ceremony in Quetta on Sunday. “They [PPP] have always highlighted the issues of workers and from now on I have joined [the PPP].”

The development comes as mainstream political parties making moves to secure their position in the next general and local bodies’ elections.

Lehri joined the Sindh ruling party along with his supporters. He was delighted that along with other PPPs, their team was again forming.

He added that more mayors were in contact ahead of the local government elections.

PPP leader Mir Changez Khan Jamali, who welcomed Lehri into the party, said that there were several issues in Balochistan, including Quetta. “The PPP after coming into power will lay foundation for the solving these problems,” he said and added that preparations for general elections have been started.

“With the power of the people, the PPP will be elected and form the government in Balochistan,” Jamali said.

“Political workers are our asset, we value them,” PPP’s Executive Committee member Syed Hasnain Hashmi said. “We will not hurt the trust of workers and people. Along with the chief minister of Balochistan, the mayor of Quetta will also be from the PPP.”