KARACHI: Accusing the rival Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of indulging in the ‘politics of ethnicity’, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Sunday vowed to bring down all pillars of hatred raised by the party that had ruled the province for 15 years.

Addressing the members of different communities who joined the MQM-P at the party election headquarters called Pakistan House, the senior leader said it was time to identify those who were cornered only for demanding due rights of any ethnic community and those who pretended themselves as true democratic, but had been ruling Sindh on ethnic lines.

“In fact, PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto won the election to become prime minister only due to a majority win in the 1970s election in Punjab,” Mr Siddiqui said, adding, “But he [Bhu­tto] never came up with any development package for Punjab. Because he [Zulfikar Ali Bhu­t­to] had an ethnic mindset which never allowed him to welcome other ethnic communities into his party fold with true spirit.

“We founded the Mohajir Qaumi Movement after seeing sheer injustice with a certain ethnic community. Later we expanded our struggle for all ethnic communities across Pakistan. We always mov­ed forward with the mindset of national unity.”

He said the MQM-P had turned stronger than the past and the forthcoming Feb 8 polls would prove that ground reality. It’s high time, he said, for the lower, middle and lower middle classes to come forward and join hands with the Muttahida to ensure their maximum presence in parliament.

A statement issued by the MQM-P said that a large number of people from Mahmoodabad, as­s­ociated with different communities, joi­n­ed the party and assured their political commitment.

Among those who joined the party, it said, also included Abdul Khalid, who was elected chairman from an Azam Basti’s union council thrice.

Published in Dawn, january 1st, 2024