The Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) holds a press conference against the Sindh Assembly resolution on February 22, 2026. Photo: Express
KARACHI:
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan President Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Sunday strongly opposed the imprisonment of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder.
“What kind of justice is it if the one who won 170 seats is in prison, while the one who won 80 seats is in government?” said the MQM-P leader while referring to the result of the last general elections.
Siddiqui termed the resolution against creation of new provinces presented in the Sindh Assembly as unconstitutional, unethical and undemocratic, calling it an open challenge to the federation of Pakistan.
He brought out all guns blazing against PPP, PML-N, Jamaat-e-Islami and also PTI for their so-called anti-Karachi policies.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Bahadurabad alongside senior leaders Mustafa Kamal, Farooq Sattar, Anees Qaimkhani, Aminul Haque and Faisal Sabzwari, Siddiqui questioned whether a province had the power to pass a resolution unconstitutional.
Implementation of Article 140-A is not just a matter of Karachi, it is a matter of survival of Pakistan.
Dr Siddiqui said the resolution was not just a piece of paper but an open challenge to the federation of Pakistan. “Does a province have the right to pass a resolution that contradicts the Constitution of Pakistan? If not, what fear or agenda has this audacity been carried out?” he asked.
Criticizing the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), he said the group in power in Sindh for 17 years is avoiding accountability for its worst governance, corruption and incompetence, and has therefore resorted to sowing hatred and division.
Dr Siddiqui stressed that none of the MQM’s demands are outside the ambit of the Constitution and law. “
He recalled that in 1971, when the country was broken up, all provinces accepted Urdu as the national language, except Sindh, because the motive was different – now exposed.
He demanded a transparent census under military supervision, saying that “in one fell swoop, Sindh’s false numerical majority will be exposed.” Citing evidence, he claimed that Karachi’s population had already crossed 40 million. “Karachi is no longer a mini-Pakistan, it is Pakistan itself,” he said.
Dr Siddiqui recalled that the Bhutto Constitution itself allows for the creation of new provinces. “If demanding a province is treason, then what creates districts on linguistic grounds, patriotism?” he asked.
He noted that in 2008, Karachi was among the fastest growing cities, but 17 years of PPP rule pushed it to the list of the world’s worst cities. He emphasized that implementation of Article 140-A is not only a matter of Karachi but a matter of survival of Pakistan.
Siddiqui, speaking directly to the Prime Minister, said: “Implementation of the Constitution is your responsibility, and the Constitution of Pakistan also allows referendums.”
He asked: “What kind of justice is this, the one who has 170 seats is in prison while the one who has 80 seats is in the government?
Dr Siddiqui accused Hafiz Naeemur Rehman of being part of conspiracies against Karachi, saying greed for a single seat was leading to treason. He also sharply criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), alleging that it had sided with the PPP and joined in “unconstitutional” politics. “Do not try to scare us with the threat of riots. This resolution is illegal, unethical and undemocratic. Ramadan will be spent in prayers, but then there will be a decisive struggle in defense of the Constitution, the people and Pakistan. If a transparent census is carried out, the demand for a new province will come from elsewhere and not from Karachi.”
