By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P), welcomed the government’s approval of a PKR 5 billion grant aimed at supporting the families of missing persons, describing the move as a crucial step towards addressing a long-standing humanitarian concern.
In a statement, Siddiqui expressed gratitude for the decision and reiterated his party’s commitment to assisting both the recovery of missing individuals and the provision of relief to their families. He highlighted that the program should explicitly cover the families of MQM-P’s missing political workers, pointing out that the party has endured the highest number of politically motivated disappearances in the country.
Siddiqui underlined the need for transparency and careful implementation to ensure that the intended assistance reaches those most affected, emphasizing the government’s responsibility to uphold the rights of families who have faced prolonged uncertainty and distress.
The MQM-P chief also indicated that a delegation from the party would soon meet the Prime Minister to discuss practical measures for the program’s execution, stressing the importance of close coordination with authorities to guarantee that the grant translates into tangible support. He framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to acknowledge the hardships endured by affected families and to foster accountability in cases of enforced disappearances.
By calling for focused attention on MQM-P’s missing workers, he sought to ensure that the program addresses the full spectrum of affected families while signaling the party’s active role in overseeing government-led relief measures.
