Karachi, February 22, 2026 — The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Sunday launched a strong attack on the PPP-led Sindh government, terming the recently passed resolution in the Sindh Assembly against the creation of any new province “unconstitutional” and contrary to the federal spirit of Pakistan.
The controversy erupted after the Sindh Assembly adopted a resolution declaring Karachi an inseparable part of the province and rejecting any proposal that could lead to the formation of a new administrative unit. The resolution was widely interpreted as a political message aimed at countering debates surrounding administrative restructuring and demands for greater autonomy in urban Sindh.
Addressing a packed press conference in Karachi, MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, flanked by senior party leaders Farooq Sattar, Mustafa Kamal and Senator Faisal Subzwari, said the provincial assembly had no authority to pass a resolution that pre-emptively closed the door on constitutional provisions related to new provinces.
“Yesterday, one assembly of Pakistan passed a resolution against the Constitution of Pakistan,” Siddiqui said, adding that the move amounted to challenging the constitutional framework of the federation. He questioned whether a province could legislate in a manner that, in his view, contradicted the procedure laid out in the Constitution.
Referring to Sindh, Siddiqui remarked that the resolution gave the impression of a province acting beyond its constitutional limits. He stressed that the formation of new provinces was governed by Article 239 of the Constitution of 1973, which clearly defines the process involving parliament and the concerned provincial assembly.
“The matter is not about any specific demand of MQM-P. It is about protecting the Constitution and the federation,” he asserted. He argued that political disagreements should not lead to steps that appear to override constitutional mechanisms.
Siddiqui also cited Articles 246 and 248, claiming that the Constitution already provides safeguards and extraordinary provisions for dealing with exceptional situations. According to him, the resolution was unnecessary and politically motivated.
The MQM-P leader reiterated his party’s longstanding demand for empowered local governments, saying the issue had consistently been raised, including during deliberations over the 26th Constitutional Amendment. He maintained that MQM-P’s demands were rooted in administrative efficiency and public service delivery, not in constitutional confrontation.
“What fear compelled you to table this resolution?” he asked, calling for dialogue instead of political posturing. “The solution to every issue lies in dialogue, not threats.”
Drawing a historical reference, Siddiqui mentioned the national crisis of 1970 and the subsequent need for unity and reconciliation. He referred to language decisions taken by different provinces in the aftermath of that period, arguing that sensitive political issues required consensus-building rather than unilateral declarations.
The resolution has further deepened tensions between the Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government and MQM-P, particularly over questions of governance, administrative control of Karachi and the broader debate on provincial restructuring in Pakistan.
Political observers say the exchange reflects longstanding differences over urban governance in Karachi and the distribution of powers between provincial and local governments. With both sides standing firm, the issue is likely to remain a flashpoint in Sindh’s political landscape in the coming weeks.
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