 His close association with Bhutto led to his joining Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s PPP shortly after PPP’s creation in 1967.He contested general elections of 1970 with a PPP-ticket from Khairpur Mirs and defeated his opponents, Comrade Syed Baqir Ali Shah (provincial president of National Awami Party (Wali) and Council Member of Communist Party of Pakistan) and Syed Ghous Ali Shah.Recognizing young Shah's capability, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto appointed Qaim Ali Shah to his small cabinet as the Federal Minister for Industries and Kashmir Affairs.