Sindh PA: MQM MPA seeks protection from MPA of their own party!

KARACHI: In a dramatic turn of the Sindh Assembly proceedings on Friday, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker sought police protection after alleging life threats from within his own party, laying bare what appeared to be a deep and increasingly violent internal grouping within Karachi’s dominant political force.

Raising a point of order, MQM MPA Shaukat Rajput told the House that he had been openly threatened and warned that he would be “dealt with” if he stepped outside the Assembly. He alleged that the threat was issued by a fellow MQM legislator, Shariq Jamal.

The lawmaker urged Speaker, Awais Qadir Shah in chair, to direct the concerned police station to register his complaint and ensure his security, warning that failure to do so would leave him with no option but to resign from the Assembly.

Detailing the seriousness of the matter, Rajput said armed men had visited his office earlier in the week and that the intimidation continued inside the Assembly. He further alleged that MNA Imran Mahsud had arrived at his office on Monday accompanied by armed individuals, linking that incident to the threats he now faced.

Rajput said the conflict stemmed from internal party divisions, stating that he belonged to the group led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, while those threatening him were associated with the former PSP faction.

The allegations triggered disorder in the House, prompting Sindh Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar to intervene. He remarked that raising such accusations on the Assembly floor was inappropriate but stressed that the safety of an elected representative could not be compromised.

Assuring Rajput of full protection, Lanjar said security arrangements would be put in place and warned that strict action would be taken against those named if any harm came to the complainant. He added that Rajput was free to record his statement before the police if he so wished.

Speaker of the Sindh Assembly asked Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi to ensure that the matter was resolved before the session concluded, warning that failure to do so could result in suspension of membership.

Talking on the matter, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon described the episode as an internal MQM dispute but emphasised that the Assembly could not function if members were not protected even after receiving death threats.

As tensions escalated, the Speaker suspended the membership of MQM lawmaker, Engineer Usman for creating disorder and allegedly provoking party members during the proceedings. His entry into the Assembly was barred until submission of a written apology.

The seriousness of the confrontation was underscored when the concerned SSP and SHO arrived at the Sindh Assembly. However, officials later confirmed that reconciliation had been reached between the two MQM lawmakers, after which police personnel left the premises.

The atmosphere remained charged later in the session when Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, in a separate address, condemned what he described as ethnically charged and hateful remarks made at a recent event held at the Governor House. Without naming the governor, he said an MNA had used inflammatory language at a constitutional institution and warned that such discourse was damaging to both the province and the federation.

MQM members protested loudly during his speech, prompting Memon to clarify that he had referred only to the event and not to any individual officeholder, adding that the House itself had just witnessed how internal party divisions had escalated into threats against a sitting lawmaker.

Earlier, Sindh Education and Literacy Minister Syed Sardar Shah informed the Sindh Assembly that the provincial government has allocated more than Rs18 billion for schools and has authorised school principals to spend funds for routine operational needs.

He made these remarks while responding to written and supplementary questions during the question hour related to the Education and Literacy Department.

Raising concerns, MQM lay legislator, Qurratulain Khan questioned how students of classes 9th and 10th prepare for practical examinations when the number of science laboratories is extremely limited. Responding, the minister acknowledged that the concern was valid, stating that both libraries and science labs are insufficient in number. He clarified that such facilities are generally not available at the primary school level.

Sardar Shah requested the Speaker to allocate a separate session for him to brief the House on the overall performance of his department, share relevant data, and respond to members’ queries in detail. He said it would be an honour for him to present his department’s performance before the Assembly.

He further appreciated opposition members who have adopted schools in their constituencies, calling it a positive initiative worthy of recognition.

MQM member Sabir Qaimkhani stressed that many schools require significant improvement and pointed out that the roofs of two schools in his constituency had collapsed, urging immediate repairs. The minister responded that a large number of schools need maintenance, explaining that rainwater accumulates on rooftops, leading to seepage and eventual roof collapses.

He clarified that no education is currently being conducted in dangerous school buildings and that references to unsafe schools were based on a three-year-old report.

Another MQM member, Rashid Khan alleged that teachers were being recruited in Hyderabad from other cities and demanded priority for local candidates. In response, the minister urged members to report any demands for bribes, stating that any official found asking for money would be dismissed from service.

He informed the House that around 31,000 candidates are currently awaiting appointments and added that if the Assembly approves the recruitment of 31,000 teachers, the government would have no objection.

Providing statistics, the minister said there are more than 1,800 schools in Karachi, while over 16 million children in the province are of school-going age. He disclosed that the annual expenditure per student in a government school is approximately Rs47,000.

Expressing concern, Sardar Shah said that despite receiving good salaries, many teachers are unwilling to teach, emphasising that nothing is possible without education. He added that 92 percent of the school education budget is spent on salaries and pensions.

He regretted that the education department is increasingly being viewed as a source of employment rather than a means of imparting education, stating that there is still no clear direction on the future of education policy in the province.

The minister recalled that in 2021, the government decided to recruit 50,000 teachers, while offer letters have already been issued to 95,000 teachers.

He noted that around 30 million children in Pakistan are currently studying in private schools, despite the Constitution guaranteeing free education. He added that teachers in private schools are paid only Rs10,000 to Rs12,000 per month.

MQM legislator, Adil Askari appreciated the performance of the education minister and the education secretary, noting that 42 percent of girls in Sindh are currently receiving education. However, he warned that the number of out-of-school children is increasing and must be reduced.

Responding, Sardar Shah said girls’ education is a top priority for the government and announced that transport facilities for female students would be launched soon.

In a separate development, MQM submitted a resolution in the Sindh Assembly regarding the collapse of a building following a gas explosion in the Soldier Bazaar area in Karachi. The resolution was moved by MQM member Aamir Siddiqui and bears the signatures of more than 22 assembly members.

The resolution stated that permission was granted for the construction of a ground-plus-three building on a 35–40 square yard plot and demanded strict action against responsible officials of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).

It further called for an impartial investigation into the Soldier Bazaar tragedy. MQM-P member Adil Askari also demanded an immediate survey of the entire Soldier Bazaar area as well as other localities to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026