KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has claimed to have formally launched a citywide protest campaign from Liaquatabad, demanding the transfer of administrative and financial powers to the grassroots level, warning that it may call for the repeal of the 18th Amendment if authority is not devolved to local governments.

Addressing a rally late on Saturday in Liaquatabad, the MQM-P leaders said that while the party had supported the 18th Amendment in principle, its implementation had failed to empower ordinary citizens. Instead, they said, powers and resources were concentrated within provincial governments, leaving urban Sindh, particularly Karachi, deprived of basic rights and representation.

Addressing the rally, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal criticised the provincial administration for what he described as systemic neglect of Karachi’s residents.

He also highlighted recurring civic tragedies, questioning how long citizens would continue to suffer due to poor governance, unsafe infrastructure and administrative inefficiency.

He pointed to incidents involving uncovered drains, unsafe commercial buildings and heavy traffic accidents as examples of governmental failure.

A central focus of the party’s protest, he said, is constituency delimitation in major urban centres including Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Nawabshah and Karachi.

The MQM-P leader alleged that recent delimitations have reduced urban representation and fragmented its voter base, particularly affecting migrant communities. The party maintains that fair representation is essential for addressing the mounting civic crisis in metropolitan areas, he added.

Reiterating the party’s broader political stance, he declared that it now represents all communities across Sindh rather than a single ethnic group.

He emphasised that party movement is centred on citizens’ rights, citing widespread shortages of water, electricity and gas, alongside rising unemployment and declining educational standards in Karachi.

Announcing the next phase of mobilisation, Mr Kamal said that protest gatherings would be organised in every town of Karachi, culminating in a major public rally.

The party also signalled its intention to expand the movement across Sindh and other parts of Pakistan, framing the campaign as a struggle for equitable governance and local empowerment.

In their addresses, the MQM-P also criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party, accusing the ruling party of failing both urban residents and rural communities.

The MQM leaders claimed that peasants and underprivileged Sindhis have suffered under provincial rule and urged citizens not to be swayed by what they termed political misinformation.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2026