Sindh Government Denies Withdrawing Security from MQM Leaders Amid Political Tensions

KARACHI (MNN); The Sindh government on Tuesday refuted claims by factions of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) that security personnel assigned to party leaders had been withdrawn. The controversy comes amid ongoing political tensions between the MQM-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the PPP following the Gul Plaza fire tragedy.

MQM-P leader Mustafa Kamal, who also serves as federal health minister, told Geo News that the alleged withdrawal of security was “in response” to his party’s criticism of the Sindh government and intended to intimidate them. Kamal argued that the alleged move strengthened MQM-P’s call for Karachi to be placed under federal control, describing the provincial government as “incompetent.”

However, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar and Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon rejected these claims, asserting that no security has been revoked for any MQM leader. Lanjar clarified that federal ministers Kamal and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, currently in Islamabad, retained their security, and all leaders entitled to protection continue to have it. Memon also described MQM-P’s claims as “propaganda” aimed at creating political tension.

MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar, addressing a press conference in Karachi, insisted that the Sindh government was stepping back from its responsibility to protect party MNAs and MPAs. He urged that, if the province failed, Islamabad police should provide security and reiterated his party’s demand to make Karachi a federal territory.

Sindh ministers highlighted that security for political figures, including opposition leaders, continues as per entitlement. They stressed that protests in a democracy are allowed but warned against violent or undemocratic tactics, citing past incidents such as strikes or arson.

The dispute comes after the Gul Plaza inferno, which claimed over 73 lives, leading MQM-P to demand federal intervention and criticize the 18th Amendment, accusing the PPP of mismanaging city governance. The provincial government has countered by accusing MQM-P of politicizing the tragedy.