Lead

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has intensified its campaign for the creation of new provinces, with party chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui leading a rally in Hyderabad and senior leader Mustafa Kamal holding a press conference in Karachi on Saturday. The party argues that the existing administrative system has failed to address the governance needs of the growing population and that new provinces are essential for ensuring better service delivery, equitable resource distribution and effective governance, as reported by Dawn.

Coverage comparison

Two reports from Dawn — one focusing on the Hyderabad rally and another on Mustafa Kamal’s press conference in Karachi — provide the basis for this coverage. The first report presents the demand for new provinces as stemming from the failure of the current administrative system, framing the issue in terms of administrative necessity. The second report, covering Kamal’s press conference, adopts a more critical tone toward the Sindh government, describing the situation as an “injustice” to Karachi and highlighting the city’s revenue contribution versus the budget allocation it receives.

Both reports rely on direct quotes from party leaders and present the MQM-P’s stance without offering a response from the Sindh government or other stakeholders. The party’s internal dynamics are also noted: Dr Siddiqui and Mr Kamal held separate events on the same day, with neither attending the other’s event, indicating growing internal rifts within the party.

Key claims

  • MQM-P demands the creation of new provinces on an administrative basis, as stated by Mustafa Kamal during a press conference in Karachi and reported by Dawn. The party argues that the existing system of four provinces and a federating unit can no longer function effectively.
  • Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui led a rally in Hyderabad, while Mustafa Kamal held a press conference in Karachi on the same day, according to Dawn. The two events were held separately, with neither leader attending the other’s event.
  • The existing administrative system has failed to address the governance needs of the growing population, particularly in Sindh, the party argues. Mustafa Kamal said that funds dispensed to Sindh never reach the districts and that there is no system for disbursing funds to union councils.
  • Karachi contributes more than 90% of Sindh’s revenue but receives only a small portion of the budget, as claimed by Mustafa Kamal in his press conference. Another statistic cited by the party in the same report states that 97% of the Sindh budget is provided by Karachi, and that the Sindh government has received Rs22 trillion over the past 18 years but allocated only Rs680 billion to Karachi.
  • The Sindh government has failed to provide basic services such as clean drinking water, sanitation, education, and healthcare in Karachi, according to Mustafa Kamal. He accused the provincial government of preventing Karachi from playing its role in driving Pakistan’s economic growth.
  • MQM-P will take to the streets against the injustice being meted out to Karachi, as announced by Mustafa Kamal. He said the party would adopt all methods allowed under the Constitution, including street protests, while staying within the law.
  • In his address at the Hyderabad rally, party chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the MQM had not withdrawn its demand for a separate province to be carved out from Sindh and told critics that the province would be created on the basis of “exchange of land” and “mother tongue.” He also said that Mohajirs from India had arrived by choice, not by chance, under the Liaquat-Nehru pact.

Perspectives

MQM-P leadership

The MQM-P leadership, as represented by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Mustafa Kamal, argues that the creation of new provinces is essential for administrative efficiency and equitable resource distribution. They claim that Karachi contributes the majority of Sindh’s revenue but receives a disproportionately small share of the budget, and that the provincial government has failed to provide basic services to the city. The party has announced it will take to the streets to protest what it describes as injustice to Karachi, while remaining within the constitutional framework.