Since its debut in 1988, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has consistently outperformed bigger parties in the urban centres of Sindh. While Karachi has been an MQM stronghold, the party has strong roots in Hyderabad along with decent following in Mirpurkhas and Sukkur as well. But the party fared rather poorly in the first phase of the eletions (including in Mirpurkhas, Sukkur and Nawabshah), with its leadership challenging the legitimacy of the voting process and the results.

With the second phase of the election a little over a fortnight away, to be followed by a by-election on the seat vacated by Aamir Liaquat, MQM-P chief Khalid Maqbool sat down with host Shaukat Paracha in an episode of Aaj News’ current affairs programme Rubaroo.

The convesation traversed a host of issues including the recent return and arrest of MQM leader Babar Ghauri and the potential return to the party fold of founding member Dr Farooq Sattar.

When asked about Babar Ghauri’s arrest, Maqbool explained that the party had not been in contact with him since August 22.

“Ghauri hasn’t announced he’s left MQM but he hasn’t been with us since August 22 [2016] either,” Maqbool said referring to MQM founder Altaf Hussain’s speech over which he was charged for inciting violence. It was alleged that the former minister was seen clapping in video footage when Hussain made the speech. In December 2017, Ghauri announced his disassociation from the Altaf Hussain led MQM while distancing himself from other factions of the MQM, including the MQM-P, that was created following the August 2016 speech.

“He will have to elaborate on this himself. We saw his arrest just like you on the media. We were shocked as we had always known him to be a cautious man.”

Dr Farooq Sattar’s return

Paracha also inquired about talks of Dr Farooq Sattar’s return to the MQM-P.

“It’s his decision,” Maqbool responded, “but he’s very positive about coming back and we believe a good message will be delivered to the people through his return.” Sattar was stripped of his party membership in 2018 over violations of party discipline.

The veteran politician has filed nomination papers for the NA-245 by-election as an independent candidate. He has also announced to contest the second phase of the local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions, scheduled for July 24, under the ‘Azadi Panel’.

NA-245 by-poll

Paracha then shifted the conversation to the upcoming by-elections, citing ex-Sindh Governor Imran Ismail’s comment that the PTI would come back with “full force” for the NA-245 by-election.

The NA-245 by-polls are being held to fill the seat vacated after the death of PTI’s Amir Liaquat Hussain. “Is Imran Ismail’s comment a challenge to the MQM?” Paracha asked.

“I believe PTI won’t get the support they enjoyed previously,” Maqbool said, “But they never believed that they had the support. The people didn’t believe it either. Why else were they pointing fingers at us when PTI had the majority seats in Karachi?”

The PTI had won 14 out of 21 NA seats in the 2018 general election.

In September 2020, Imran Khan, the prime minister at the time, announced a Rs1.1 trillion development package for the port city.

When Paracha asked the MQM-P convenor about the package, he said his party never sought it. “We wanted Rs 25 billion,” Maqbool said, “but we only ever got one or two billion.”

Maqbool also pointed out that Imran Ismail’s comment was a major reversal of PTI’s policy of not returning to the National Assembly.

PTI leaer Fawad Chaudhry had said that his party had no intention of returning to the National Assembly, although the party later said that it was open to return if its demands for ‘announcing the date of early elections’ was met.

“I don’t know why they turned back on their comment,” he said, “but it’s a good thing for us.”

The MQM-P leader claimed that if elections were transparent, the competition would prove why they had lost last time. “This election would be about policies.”

On the issue of decreasing voter turnout at elections, Maqbool said it was because people weren’t confident about the election process.

“Last time, the votes weren’t counted properly. Then through delimitation, they reduced the vote representation by 25 per cent. This time, I am positive things will be better.”

PTI’s leadership

When Paracha asked what would happen if the PTI were to retain the NA-245 seat, Maqbool pointed out that the PTI was successful on the NA-33 Hangu seat but refused to occupy it.

“They have the right to lead however they want. If the elections are transparent and PTI wins seats, then they might get another shot at strengthening their footing in Sindh,” he said. “Our only concern is that the elections should be conducted naturally, not artificially.”

He said the PTI’s decision to not allow their successful candidate to represent the constituency was unfair to the people of the area

“If the situation remains the same, then these things should be addressed by the election commission,” he said, “You have the right to fight back if you think you’ve been wronged. But you can’t block seats like that and deprive people of representation.”

Second phase of the by-elections

The conversation then moved to the second phase of the local government election as it moves into Sindh’s urban centres Karachi and Hyderabad, with the host inquiring whether the MQM-P would be able to retain its mayorship in the two cities.

Maqbool said that he would see once the election takes place while dismissing hte first phase as compromised. MQM-P as well as the JUI-F, both members of the ruling coalition, have accused the PPP of rigging creating. The election was marred by violence.

“Our ballot boxes were taken from the constituencies where we had a good chance,” Maqbool said. “The delimitation process was compromised. Cities were divided and smaller villages added to it tinker with the numbers,” he said, adding that they would approach the electoral watchdog over it.

“We can’t call it an election. This is a huge stain on democracy,” he said.

“In some areas of Karachi, in the Union Councils where we are likely to win, the number of voters are between 80,000 to 90,000. In areas where we are not present, the size of the UC is between 15,000 to Rs30,000,” explained Maqbool.

This means that while we will win one constituency, the others can win three to four UC seats, continued Maqbool. He said that this gerryamndering was done to dilute their powers.

“A 10% difference in the number of voters is acceptable and permitted. A 200% difference is not.”

Maqbool said that despite the situation, he had expressed his reservations to the prime minister and he was hopeful about the future.

He said he is hopeful that justice would prevail. “If we get heard on relevant forums - like the ECP and the courts - and if votes aren’t used for making such decisions, then it has to be done on the roads,” said Maqbool, hinting at street protests. He also said that his party would resign from the assemblies over hte issue.

He did that he has found the approach and policies of the senior PPP leadership on the issue to be positive while warning against those ’’who might want to benefit from this broken system in Sindh“.

Nomination of Nasreen Jalil

Paracha also inquired about what became of the summary sent by the PM Office to the Presidency nominating MQM-P’s Nasreen Jalil as Sindh governor.

As per the constitution, the president can sit on the summary, explained the host. But if a summary is sent for a second time, then the president has ten days to respond to it. If President Alvi approves the nomination, Nasreen Jalil would succeed Alvi’s fellow PTI member Imran Ismail as Sindh governor.

Following her nomination, PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry tweeted a letter sent by Jalil, among others, to the Indian High Commission seeking help against Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies.

Maqbool clarified the the latter was sent before August 22, 2016, and to all the embassies as well as the chief justice of Pakistan. “Someone on Ms Jalil’s staff sent the letter to the Indian High Commission by mistake which is regrettable,” he said.

Maqbool added that the incident took place before the split in the MQM triggered by the August 22 speech, and the MQM-P had a completely different narrative from before that time.

He said that Nasreen Jalil had been chosen because she had a spotless record and is highly respected.