ISLAMABAD: In-charge of the Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Zahid Malik, on Monday accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of adopting double standards on the issue of creating new provinces in the country.

In a statement, Mr Malik said the PPP had supported the creation of new provinces in 2012.

He added that the party had backed the unanimous resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly for the restoration of Bahawalpur province and the formation of a South Punjab province.

“Why does the PPP, which supports the creation of new provinces in Punjab, adopt a different stance when it comes to Sindh and Karachi,” Mr Malik questioned.

“If the Pakistan Peoples Party is serious about addressing public issues, why is it opposing the creation of new provinces on administrative grounds?” he further asked.

He said that taking a U-turn on the issue after 13 years could only be described as political hypocrisy.

“What is considered good for Punjab is considered bad for Sindh and Karachi,” he remarked.

Mr Malik further said that the Pakistan Peoples Party had been in power in Sindh for 17 years, while PTI had ruled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for 13 years, claiming that the performance of both parties had been zero.

He said both parties had remained in power for over a decade and were blaming the federation for their own incompetence.

Earlier, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan had accused the Sindh government of “chronic misgovernance” in Karachi and demanded federal control of the city, drawing a strong response from the Pakistan Peoples Party that blamed the party for past violence in the metropolis.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2026