MQM-P gears up for 'decisive phase' of struggle for due rights.

HYDERABAD -- Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has vowed to move Supreme Court again over disputed delimitations in Karachi and Hyderabad.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) recently rejected Sindh government's Jan 12, 2023 notification whereby the Sindh government had withdrawn/cancelled its Dec 31, 2021 notification on new structure of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC).

Senior party leaders told the media on Sunday that a new and stronger MQM would launch a decisive struggle on roads against delimitations. They urged the powers that be to take notice of injustice as, they remarked, the Sindh government's initiative of delimitations would not go down well.

MQM-P convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui along with Anis Kaimkhani, Zafar Kamali, Zafar Siddiqui, Abdul Wasim and others was speaking at a news conference at the party's local office at Bhai Khan ki Chari.

Dr Siddiqui said population of urban centres of Sindh was undercounted in every census and this was proved in 1972. He said this conspiracy had been going on for the last 50 years, adding that wrongs of census had never been undone.

He said even the previous census was held after a delay of seven years as attempt was made to change demography of Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah and Sukkur. He said that on the basis of such census, voters lists were prepared and delimitations done. He said that urban centres must have 25pc representation originally.

He said MQM-P raised questions over delimitations in Karachi and Hyderabad at every forum. He vowed to raise the issue on roads and streets with masses' support.

A programme to enter in 'decisive phase of the struggle' would be shared with the media, he said, adding that rigging now stood proved.

Kamal questions ECP's authority

Syed Mustafa Kamal said that in terms of law, the ECP had no right to say 'no' to the Jan 12 notification. 'We will move SC again as Muttahida has approached Sindh government under SC's order,' he said. His point was endorsed by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.

Kamal said gerrymandering was done only to deprive MQM-P of its right to perform civic bodies' functions.

He said given its numerical strength in assemblies, MQM-P...