Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui lambasted provincial overreach, accusing the PPP of legislating under fear and a province of placing itself above Pakistan’s Constitution
By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) on Sunday called a resolution passed by the Sindh Assembly against the creation of a Karachi province “unconstitutional”. The party said Article 239 of the 1973 Constitution allows for the creation of new provinces.
The remarks came a day after the provincial assembly adopted the resolution rejecting any move to carve out Karachi as a separate province, declaring the metropolis an “integral part” of Sindh. Addressing a joint press conference, MQM-P Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, flanked by Farooq Sattar, Mustafa Kamal, Senator Faisal Subzwari and others, said: “Yesterday, a resolution against the Constitution of Pakistan was passed by the Sindh Assembly.”
Siddiqui, who also serves as Federal Education Minister, said Article 48(6) of the Constitution even allows for a referendum. Slamming the provincial government, he added: “PPP has passed this resolution under the shadow of some fear.” Without naming Sindh, he said: “A province acts as if it is above the Constitution of Pakistan.”
Referring to alleged rigging in the 2024 general elections, Siddiqui said the PPP, with an “artificial majority”, has taken control of Sindh. He claimed the ruling party was not even ready to give powers to its own mayor in Karachi. “We have entered a crucial juncture, and we have to decide,” he warned.
Siddiqui emphasized that dialogue is the only solution to any issue. He said his party seeks to live in peace. “Sindh is the most multilingual province in Pakistan, and injustice has been happening in urban areas for the last 20 years,” he added.
MQM-P leader and former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal said the Constitution allows the federation to assume control of a city. MQM-P has repeatedly demanded that the federal government declare Karachi a ‘federal territory’, citing the PPP’s governance failures.
Kamal said the Constitution provides scope for the creation of new provinces. He added that the party’s demand for a new province falls within the constitutional ambit. On another point, he said MQM-P’s support for the 18th Constitutional Amendment aimed to transfer powers from the provinces to municipal representatives. “PPP is not ready to devolve powers to the districts,” he added.
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