- MQM-P ‘calls emergency press conference’ over security removal.
- Federal Ministers Khalid Maqbool and Mustafa Kamal lose security.
- Security of Farooq Sattar, Anis Kaimkhani, Ali Khurshidi withdrawn.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) expressed serious concerns after security was withdrawn from its key ministers, lawmakers and leaders in the early hours of Tuesday.
Security has been abruptly withdrawn from leaders of the MQM-P, including federal ministers and members of the Sindh Assembly, triggering concern in the party, sources said.
The development follows sharp criticism by MQM-P ministers and MPAs against the Sindh government, especially over the Gul Plaza tragedy.
Sources familiar with the development said Pakinomist news that the party leadership had issued strong statements against the provincial government following the deadly mall fire that claimed 73 lives with a search operation still underway to find missing persons.
Security cover has been withdrawn from federal ministers Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Mustafa Kamal, senior leaders Farooq Sattar, Anis Qaimkhani, as well as MQM-P’s leader of opposition in the Sindh Assembly Ali Khurshidi.
The party sources described the development as alarming and decided to hold an emergency press conference to react to the withdrawal of the security and to outline MQM-P’s position on the matter.
Last week, the MQM-P, a key ally of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led coalition government, demanded that Karachi be declared a federal territory under Articles 148 and 149 of the constitution, calling it necessary “for the sake of Pakistan”.
Expressing anger over the Gul Plaza fire, MQM-P leader and federal health minister Mustafa Kamal criticized the Sindh government, saying Karachi cannot be left at its mercy.
Kamal asked, “How many more accidents will we have to endure? How many more bodies will have to be recovered? How many more children will fall into open drains and die?”
He added: “This democratic terrorism in Sindh should end immediately”, and called for the abolition of the 18th Amendment, claiming it has become a “cancer for the country”.
However, the Sindh government rejected the criticism and said that the MQM-P politicized the tragedy.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said, “Those who burned the people alive for extortion are politicizing the Gul Plaza fire.”
Memon also criticized the timing of Kamal’s remarks against the 18th Amendment and called for political debate to take place on the floor of the Assembly instead of external rhetoric, which he said would achieve nothing.
