KARACHI: A war of words has erupted between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Sindh government after MQM-P’s demand for creation of new provinces in the country on the basis of population.
The Sindh government on Sunday reacted strongly to the joint press conference held by MQM-P Chairman Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui along with Dr. Farooq Sattar and Dr. Mustafa Kamal in Karachi, where the MQM-P leadership said the case for new provinces within Sindh is the strongest.
In the presser, Mustafa Kamal had claimed that Sindh received Rs 2,263 billion from the federation this year and a total of Rs 22,000 billion in the last 17 years, but despite receiving such a huge amount, Sindh has been turned into the worst place.
‘Country Cannot Be Divided By Hatred’: Sindh Govt Spokesperson
Reacting to the press conference, Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed said Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui is trying unsuccessfully to mislead the people by speaking half the truth of the Constitution.
“There is a way to create new provinces in the Constitution, the country cannot be divided by hatred,” she said.
“Constitutional provisions are to strengthen the federation, not to divide the country on social grounds. If the Constitution is respected so much, then why does the MQM attack the 18th Amendment? The MQM’s province card is the last attempt at political bankruptcy,” she asked.
Sadiq Javed said people should stop dreaming of changing the map by sitting in front of flashlights.
She termed Mustafa Kamal’s claim of Rs 22,000 billion as an attempt at cheap fame.
“Those who talk about division of Sindh should first unite their broken ranks,” she said, in an apparent reference to the reported internal differences within MQM-P between the Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal groups, which recently came to light after the Farooq Sattar group’s boycott of MQM-P gatherings in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas.
“In the era of social media, youth cannot be fooled by emotional slogans. MQM has neither an economic plan nor a real model for development of Karachi,” she added.
She said Pakistan Peoples Party is the guarantor of rights of every citizen of Sindh and will not allow hatred to spread. “MQM-Pakistan is now a thing of the past, it has no role in the politics of the future,” she said.
‘M and Kh Will Separate From Muttahida’: Nasir Shah
Provincial Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah also launched a scathing attack on the MQM-P leadership.
“It is clear from Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui’s press conference that he is suffering from severe mental stress. His mental stress is understandable, but his treatment is only with the Federal Health Minister,” Shah said.
“Whenever the self-styled leadership of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement holds a press conference, it looks extremely angry and frustrated. This frustration reflects their political isolation and political helplessness. The self-styled and so-called leadership of MQM is neither elected by the people of Karachi, nor does it have real political representation,” he said.
He said the so-called leadership is talking about taking the people of Karachi, trade, peace and prosperity hostage, not the province.
“The people of Karachi know their face and past very well, that is why citizens rejected them. They should not say things that are beyond their thinking, understanding, comprehension and political stature,” he added.
Taking a jibe at Dr. Farooq Sattar, the minister said, “Farooq Sattar is the twelfth player of the current Muttahida, which is no longer united. Sindh will not be divided, but I definitely see the Muttahida getting divided, ‘M’ and ‘Kh’ will be separated from the Muttahida, the remaining ‘F’ will continue to spin like a ribbon.”
“The non-united members of the Muttahida should understand that the people of Karachi are with the Pakistan Peoples Party. The people of Karachi are on the journey of love, brotherhood, peace and development, now they have nothing to do with the Muttahida,” Shah concluded.
MQM-P stages joint show demanding new provinces amid internal rift
