Federal Health Minister and MQM-P leader Mustafa Kamal on Saturday referred to Sindhis as his “brothers and sisters,” emphasizing that his party’s push for new provinces is grounded in the Constitution. He sought to dispel narratives framing the campaign as an ethnic conflict between Sindhis and Urdu-speaking Muhajirs.
Kamal stressed that political disagreements should not reignite ethnic divisions among communities that have coexisted in Sindh for generations. He questioned, “If MQM people harbor ill feelings toward Sindhis, what explanation can we offer our elders?” He firmly added that the notion of Sindhis and Muhajirs being adversaries is no longer acceptable.
The MQM-P has intensified its advocacy for creating new administrative units, especially within Sindh, arguing that Pakistan’s current administrative framework has failed to keep up with population growth and increasing demands for public services. The party maintains that its proposal is driven by governance and administrative efficiency rather than ethnic or linguistic considerations. Kamal has highlighted that smaller administrative units paired with empowered local governments could enhance decision-making and equitable resource distribution.
In a significant development, Kamal underscored that the matter must be addressed through constitutional and democratic channels, cautioning against portraying it as an attempt to divide Sindh or Pakistan. MQM-P frequently cites Article 239 of the Constitution, which outlines the procedure for amendments, including those altering provincial boundaries. Such changes require a two-thirds majority in the relevant provincial assembly before advancing through the federal constitutional process.
Kamal reaffirmed the party’s commitment to pursuing this issue via parliamentary and constitutional forums. He referenced Pakistan’s political history to argue that the Constitution explicitly allows for administrative restructuring and that seeking new provinces through this mechanism is not unconstitutional. He remarked metaphorically, “Caravans do not stop because dogs bark,” signaling that criticism will not deter their efforts.
Earlier, MQM-P Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui called for a nationwide dialogue on the creation of new provinces, stressing that additional administrative units should be considered wherever population and governance demands warrant them.
However, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which governs Sindh, strongly opposes any alteration to the province’s territorial boundaries. The Sindh Assembly has rejected proposals for a new province within Sindh, with PPP leaders advocating for improved administration and devolution instead of dividing the province. This disagreement has positioned MQM-P and PPP on opposing sides of a debate with significant administrative and political implications for Sindh.
MQM-P leaders have sought to dissociate administrative restructuring from ethnic politics. Kamal has reiterated that the party views Sindhis as allies and that the demand aims to enhance governance across the province. He has also expressed the party’s goal to “reconnect” Pakistan rather than fragment it, arguing that creating new administrative units could strengthen the federation by bringing government closer to the people.
Kamal has linked the call for new provinces to the distribution of financial resources and political power. At a July 25 press conference, he claimed that over 18 years, the Sindh government received Rs22 trillion but allocated only Rs680 billion to Karachi, despite the city contributing more than 90% of the province’s revenue. He further estimated that Karachi would have received about Rs2 trillion if an earlier formula for distributing General Sales Tax revenues had continued, funds that could have been invested in infrastructure, health, education, and employment. Kamal also accused the Sindh government of retaining powers and resources at the provincial level despite the 18th Amendment’s devolution of responsibilities, calling for greater financial and administrative authority for local governments.
At the same press conference, Kamal criticized the federal fund distribution among provinces, stating Sindh had received around Rs2.2 trillion out of Rs8.4 trillion allocated by the federation, alleging that these funds were not reaching districts and local councils.
The MQM-P’s campaign coincides with a broader national debate about whether Pakistan should create additional provinces or administrative units. The party argues that rapid population growth and urban expansion have made the current four-province system increasingly unmanageable. Smaller administrative units, they contend, would improve government accountability and allow resources to be more directly allocated to local communities.
Siddiqui has emphasized that the demand should not be confined to Karachi or Sindh but applied wherever population and governance needs justify it. Nonetheless, the debate remains particularly sensitive in Sindh, where provincial identity, political representation, and resource control are deeply intertwined.
Kamal has consistently sought to ease tensions by emphasizing that Sindhis and Muhajirs are not enemies. He warned that political rivalry should not be used to divide communities, reiterating, “If MQM people think ill of Sindhis, what answer will we give our elders?” Kamal assured that MQM-P will continue its campaign through constitutional and democratic means, rejecting attempts to portray the demand for administrative restructuring as ethnic confrontation. He concluded with his earlier metaphor, “Caravans do not stop because dogs bark.”
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