• PPP senators call division talk an ‘unconstitutional provocation’, attack on federation
• MQM-P blames PPP for urban-rural divide; demands new administrative units nationwide
ISLAMABAD: The contentious debate over creating a separate “Karachi province” reverberated through the Senate on Monday, as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers forcefully asserted that the city is an inseparable part of Sindh, drawing sharp criticism from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).
The heated exchange followed a recent resolution passed by the Sindh Assembly that reaffirmed the province’s indivisible status, a move that angered the MQM-P.
Leading the charge for her party, PPP parliamentary leader Senator Sherry Rehman denounced recent statements by some federal ministers suggesting a division of Sindh, labelling the discussion a dangerous and unconstitutional provocation.
“Let me be clear: The Pakistan Peoples Party is the custodian of Sindh’s unity, and no one will be allowed to undermine it,” Senator Rehman said. “Such reckless talk is not only unconstitutional but also a direct provocation to the unity of the federation.”
She argued that Sindh has historically welcomed people from all over the country and shared its resources generously.
“To now hear suggestions about dividing Karachi or Sindh is deeply alarming. This is not just an attack on a province; it is an attack on Pakistan itself,” the senator remarked.
Ms Rehman reminded the chamber that altering provincial boundaries requires a two-thirds majority in parliament, a constitutional process she said was being ignored.
“Those floating these ideas should first read the Constitution. Constitutional divisions require democratic majorities, not press conferences,” she said.
Addressing her coalition partners directly, Senator Rehman acknowledged the MQM-P’s consistent presence in federal governments but cautioned against overstepping political lines.
“May Allah grant them even more respect, but let no one confuse local political debates with a licence to redraw provincial maps,” she stated.
PPP’s vice president recalled Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s vision, emphasising that he opposed division among Pakistanis by language or identity.
She said the majority in Sindh support the Pakistan Peoples Party. For those disconcerted by this reality and want a majority, they need to earn votes democratically and endure the political struggle like PPP workers.
In a sharp retort, MQM-P Senator Khalida Ateeb rejected the Sindh Assembly’s resolution, calling it unconstitutional.
She countered the PPP’s narrative by accusing the party’s Sindh government of initiating the province’s rural and urban divide and introducing the quota system.
Ms Ateeb clarified that the MQM-P has never advocated for dividing Sindh but instead supports the creation of new administrative units across all of Pakistan’s provinces.
Another PPP lawmaker, Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, criticised the previous performance of MQM-P and Jamaat-i-Islami mayors in Karachi, claiming their tenures produced “nothing” for the city.
He contrasted their record with the PPP’s current mayor, arguing his performance over the last three years in developing infrastructure was “far better” than that of six previous mayors combined.
Senator Mehdi accused the MQM-P of reviving divisive political projects. “They have a dream, and they start pushing, at times for the separation of Karachi, the Jinnah Pur Project, and at times something else,” he charged.
Meanwhile, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan used the session to call for broader political cooperation, urging the opposition to engage in dialogue rather than confrontation to resolve national issues.
Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2026
