MQM-P chief calls for new administrative units, says time to end dynastic politics

Khalid Maqbool calls for fresh census, six administrative units in Sindh while Farooq Sattar reaffirms party's call

KARACHI:

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Monday called for the creation of new administrative units in Pakistan, saying the time had come to end hereditary and dynastic politics and that the issue would not be resolved through parliament.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s temporary headquarters, Siddiqui described a large rally held in Karachi a day earlier as a referendum by the city’s people. “Yesterday, the people of Karachi came out onto the streets and gave their verdict,” he said, adding that “feudal democracy cannot be Pakistan’s future.”

Siddiqui said administrative units were needed in Pakistan and called for an end to what he described as the practice of “enslaving the people”. “This rally was held for Pakistan’s survival,” he said. “We have seen the way of the streets. This will not pass through the assemblies.”

He also called for a fresh census and urged the courts to take notice of what he described as the manner in which Sindh had been governed since 1917.

The MQM-P chairman said the party had faced pressure over its demand for new administrative units for decades, alleging that “taking MQM’s name has been turned into a crime”. “Even after 40 years, MQM is being made a means for [pressuring on] the matter of administrative units,” he said, adding that several senior party leaders had served jail terms.

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Siddiqui said the party had consistently declared its allegiance to Pakistan since August 22, despite which, he said, its offices had been shut down.

The chairman also said the party was being threatened in an attempt to intimidate it, while stressing that its demand was not merely for the MQM-P. “This is not our need, it is Pakistan’s need,” he said.

Siddiqui further said that some people within the party’s ranks needed to separate themselves from the organisation.

Meanwhile, senior MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar said six administrative units would eventually be created in Sindh. “You snatched one governor from us; now we will have six governors,” Sattar said.

The press conference was attended by senior MQM-P leaders, including Sattar, Waseem Akhtar, Nasreen Jalil, Ali Khursheedi, Muhammad Hussain and Waseem Aftab. Siddiqui also announced that the party’s convention would be held on October 4 in District West.