Polls will be controversial if constituencies not fixed: MQM-P

MQM leader says electoral watchdog's authority ended after Clause 10A

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) held an important press conference at party's Bahadurabad centre on Friday.

Deputy Convenor Waseem AKhttar, members of the coordination committee, Faisal Sabzwari, Farogh Naseem, Dr Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal were also present at the press meet.

Addressing the press, Senator Farogh Naseem said that the Sindh government constituted UCs where MQM has a strong vote bank. MQM challenged the disputed constituencies in the court. MQM's objection on the controversial constituencies was heard from the Sindh High Court to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court accepted objections as legitimate and asked the party to approach the Sindh High Court.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf also supported the petition of MQM-P in the Sindh High Court. "I tell the Election Commission of Pakistan that after the order of Clause 10A, your authority has ended. The order of ECP cannot be followed. Controversial constituencies should be fixed for the rights of Karachi. We request the ECP to listen to us, either through the video link." He said that unless the constituencies are fixed, the Karachi elections would be controversial.

Speaking on the occasion, member of the coordination committee and Federal Minister Faisal Sabzwari said that the constitution asks the election commission to conduct fair and transparent elections. But our point is that how the elections can be transparent if the constituencies are controversial?

MQM-P wants the Supreme Court of Pakistan issue orders to correct the constituencies of Karachi. When Karachi's rights were being violated, no party other than MQM-P went to the court. The urban areas of Sindh should be counted correctly. Jobs should be given according to the correct census in Sindh.

He said that Karachi will not get the rights by just holding banners.

In response to a question, Syed Mustafa Kamal said that the parties who are trying get the elections postponed have nothing to do with the people of Karachi and Hyderabad. They are only dreaming of occupying the cities of Sindh, which will never be allowed.

Dr Farooq Sattar said that some people were happy that due to the divided MQM, they would get votes from Karachi, but now the so-called elements are worried about the unity of MQM-P. He said that MQM is not running away from the election but preparing to drive those elements out of Karachi.

The Election Commission has set aside the decision of the Sindh chief minister and Cabinet. He questioned whether the Election Commission is more respectful than the Supreme Court? When the Sindh government is admitting that there was a mistake in the delimitation of constituencies, then isn't the action of the Election Commission a contempt of court?

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2023.