Karachi: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan came out strongly against decision of coalition government to hold elections on basis of old census. Addressing press conference here MQM-P Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui whose party is stakeholder in government said population of Karachi is around 30 million, which was about 14.9 million in 2017 census and his party would not accept figures less than this. MQM-P leader vowed to resist move after Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah announced that government would not notify recently concluded census as results are not authentic and Election Commission of Pakistan needs at least four months to complete delimitation process.

 However, objections were raised to enumeration by Sindh government and MQM-P. Demanding to rectify flaws in it, they refused to accept results. MQM-P is key coalition partner in ruling alliance and had joined government on certain conditions, including transparent census. Raising their reservations on Sanaullah’s statement, Siddiqui said that they had chosen right path against injustices and tried in every situation to ensure peace in Karachi.

 I request people not to be party against peace of this city, linguistic discrimination has been done in constituencies and it should be fixed before elections.” “And everywhere raised voice for recovery.” He said that these people could not fight city’s case. “Karachi is waiting for transparent, bias-free census, do justice to urban areas of Sindh and fulfill promises made.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, July, 18 2023

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