KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) flexed its political muscles on Sunday by staging a ‘show of power’ in Karachi, declaring that it would not allow any conspiracy to rig the Feb 8 election as had been done in the 2018 general elections.

The MQM-P has been organising election-related rallies in different parts of the province since October, but it was their first major show at the sprawling Bagh-i-Jinnah in the shadow of the Quaid’s mausoleum, after the announcement of the election schedule.

A large number of people, including women and children, thronged the venue from all parts of the metropolis in motorcycles, cars, vans, buses, etc. They chanted slogans and waved tri-coloured MQM-P flags during the speeches of their leaders.

While MQM-P convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui delivered a passionate but balanced speech, it was former Karachi mayor Syed Mustafa Kamal who, in an aggressive tone, not only warned district returning officers (DROs) but his political opponents, particularly the Pakistan Peoples Party, to not even think of trying to “snatch” the result of the Feb 8 elections.

Challenges PPP dominance in Sindh; former Karachi mayor criticises Peoples Party leadership, alleges neglect of the largest city

“Today, the participants of this rally rejected the investments of the PPP and give a clear message to DROs and ROs to mend their ways on Feb 8,” Mr Kamal said, adding: “This sea of people will storm your homes if any attempt is made to rig the elections.”

He said that the people of Karachi made it very clear that they, along with people of other parts of Sindh, would have sureties of all political parties forfeited on the day of polling.

Lashing out at PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the MQM-P leader said that he was visiting all parts of the country except Karachi. “You [Bilawal] are holding public meetings in Punjab but you do not care about people of Sindh.”

Referring to an FIR lodged by a PPP worker against several MQM-P workers for attacking an election office in North Nazimabad, Mr Kamal said that his workers were not afraid of any fake FIR.

He said that Mr Bhutto-Zardari wanted to become the prime minister, but he should remember that his elders had also needed MQM’s support.

He said that the MQM-P, with the support of the people of Sindh, would shatter Mr Bhutto-Zardari’s dream of becoming prime minister and also grab the seat of Sindh chief minister from his party.

In a thinly veiled reference to MQM founder Altaf Hussain, he said that the PPP was banking on the boycott call from London to win the national and provincial assembly seats in Karachi. “You [PPP] will never win, as people of Karachi will only vote for the MQM-P,” he added.

Referring to Mr Bhutto-Zardari who had said that he also bought water for Bilawal House, he alleged that it was the PPP-led government in Sindh that was responsible for selling the water of Karachi during its 15-year-long rule.

He urged the people of Karachi not to demand water, power, gas, school, colleges, hospitals, etc, from their elected representative but effective legislation that could empower their local representatives to ensure all such problems at the grassroots level.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that today’s huge gathering had given its verdict in favour of the MQM-P.

He urged the people of Karachi to remain united against all those who had looted and plundered the country.

In his speech, senior MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that the PPP, during its 15-year rule, had snatched the jobs of the people of urban areas of Sindh.

Senior MQM-P leaders Nasreen Jalil and Anis Kaimkhani also spoke.

The party also introduced its candidates of the national and provincial assemblies during the event.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2024