LARKANA: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has strongly opposed Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) demand of handing over Karachi under the control of federal government.

In a statement issued here on Friday, PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has stated that under the Constitution, federal government cannot take over the administrative control of Karachi. It could only issue directives to a provincial government regarding implementation of federal laws.

The MQM-P demand is tantamount to imposition of ‘One Unit’, he remarked.

Mr Khuhro said that the Article 149, Clause 4 of the Constitution does not give the federal government the authority to issue orders or command provincial governments on the matters falling within the provincial jurisdiction. It does not also authorise the federation to systematically control provincial laws and administration.

He said if federal government issues any directive to a province under Article 148, Clause 2 of the Constitution, it has to be in the latter’s interest; and protection of the province’s interest is to be ensured by the province’s assembly, government and elected representatives.

The senior PPP leader said that the Constitution defines the limits of federation and federating units.

This demand was earlier made by MQM-P’s Barrister Farogh Naseem during the PTI era and now it has been renewed now by Muttahida’s Mustafa Kamal and Dr Farooq Sattar, he noted.

He said the MQM-P seeks return of dictator Pervez Musharraf’s system when Karachi used to receive direct funding from the Centre. But its dream will never come true, he said.

Mr Khuhro declared that PPP will not allow the 18th Amendment, provincial autonomy and the safeguards of provinces’ share in the National Finance Commission to be rolled back under any circumstances.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2026