The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has issued an ultimatum to the federal government: honor the 2022 power-sharing agreement with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) or face a wave of street protests.
Senior party leadership confirmed the decision during a high-level meeting in Karachi late Tuesday. The MQM-P claims the federal government has failed to implement key clauses regarding local government powers, administrative reforms in urban Sindh, and the long-awaited population census results that dictate resource distribution.
“We aren’t asking for favors, we are asking for what was signed,” a senior party member said on condition of anonymity. “The federal government is acting as a silent observer while our urban centers crumble under administrative neglect.”
The 2022 deal, brokered when the PDM coalition was forming, was intended to secure MQM-P’s support in exchange for administrative autonomy in Karachi and Hyderabad. Two years later, the party argues the deal remains largely on paper. Specifically, they point to the lack of progress on the “financial and administrative empowerment” of local bodies, a point that has consistently strained relations between the coalition partners.
The PPP, which holds the provincial government, has countered that the MQM-P’s demands—particularly regarding administrative control—would compromise provincial sovereignty.
The political stakes are high. If the MQM-P pulls its support or takes to the streets, the stability of the current federal setup could be shaken, especially as the government navigates a volatile economic climate.
For now, the party has not announced a specific date for the protests, opting to keep the pressure mounting while waiting for a formal response from Islamabad. If the silence continues, they’ve made it clear: the streets of Karachi will be their next point of negotiation.
