Confronting establishment to cause irreparable damage to Pakistan, warns MQM-P

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said on Thursday that the statements coming from various political parties and the threatening tone against the establishment would cause irreparable damage to Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference at the MQM-P election office Pakistan House, Siddiqui called upon all to sit together and get the country out of the crises it was facing. He commented, “If the establishment comes to respond to this agitation, then it will be difficult for everyone.”

He said Pakistan should not be taken to a dead end, adding that democracy was the only way for the country’s survival. He said there were threats of terrorism, because of which people used to say that the elections would not be held, but the security forces did their job and conducted the elections peacefully.

“The need of the hour is to save the state instead of politics,” he said, adding that serious situations required difficult decisions. Siddiqui opined that targeting the establishment is not good for democracy and the country. He apprehended that Pakistan’s neighbouring countries are ready to take advantage of any delicate situation.

He said independent candidates who had won showed that the elections were to some extent fair. He said that the 2024 elections were a million times better than those held in 2018. He said MQM was also expecting 40 seats in Sindh. He said that it is time for patience and tolerance, not to create problems.

Siddiqui advised the political parties to sit together and unite on the charter of politics, charter of democracy and charter of economy.

MQM-P senior deputy convener Mustafa Kamal said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is saying that those who won have the support of the establishment. He said that in this context Imran Khan-supported independent candidates have also won.

He said that the MQM-P is not a party of the establishment; it is a party of Pakistan and is talking about the country. He said the MQM-P has come forward in the difficult situation being faced by the country. Kamal further said that someone is provoking Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to fight against the MQM-P. He said Bilawal’s path to becoming prime minister has been laid with landmines by his own people. He commented, “Bilawal should look into his own ranks. If our 17 seats were with Bilawal, then he would have been the strongest candidate for premiership.”