Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has rejected MQM-P allegations that security for its leaders was withdrawn, while sources said security has been restored to several party leaders.
Speaking to Geo News by telephone, Lanjar said security had not been withdrawn from MQM-P leaders, adding that those provided protection under the law and security considerations continued to receive it.
He also said MQM-P leaders and federal ministers Mustafa Kamal and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui were in Islamabad, and reiterated that security provided to any person had not been withdrawn.
The sources said security has been restored to Siddiqui, Kamal, Farooq Sattar and Anis Kaimkhani. The sources also said a PPP leader has contacted opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, Ali Khurshidi, and that there is a possibility Khurshidi will have his security restored as well.
MQM-P is part of the ruling coalition in the federal government but sits on the opposition benches in the provincial assembly in Sindh.
Sindh government spokesperson Sumeta Afzal Syed also rejected the allegations, saying MQM had “once again resorted to a false narrative and negative propaganda”.
She said security had not been withdrawn from any MQM-P minister or leader, adding that those entitled to protection had full security in accordance with the law and security protocol. She said MQM-P’s allegations regarding security were merely political propaganda.
Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the government was “not harming anyone” and that “the government is with you”. He said the absence of such facilities in buildings was a problem across Pakistan and described the Gul Plaza blaze as a national tragedy, adding that after the incident, “all governments in the country started making arrangements”.
Memon said he had read a report that in Islamabad alone, 50% of buildings did not have these arrangements, and claimed that 90% of buildings in Karachi would be such that they do not have the arrangements.
He said a "rumour" was spread that security had been withdrawn from MQM-P, and alleged that MQM-P was taking it as propaganda. He said the fire had "not even been extinguished yet', but it was said: abolish the 18th Amendment, and accused MQM-P of doing propaganda on the issue.
He also claimed MQM-P chief Khalid Maqbool had 10 constables for security and that Mustafa Kamal had more than that, adding that “everyone has their security in place”.
Earlier, Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed had said that a police shortage in Karachi may explain the reported withdrawal of security from MQM-P leaders.
"Karachi has fewer police personnel, so it is possible that security was withdrawn due to this,” she had said on Geo News programme "Geo Pakistan", adding that there must be reasons behind the decision and noting that she did not have police security, nor did Sindh’s ruling party MPAs.
However, MQM-P leader Syed Aminul Haque told the media in Islamabad that the Sindh government withdrew security from MQM-P leaders over criticism of Gul Plaza. He claimed the security of Sattar, Kamal, himself and all leaders was withdrawn, and alleged the Sindh government was in a state of panic after the criticism.
Haque said MQM-P would keep exposing what he termed the Sindh government’s incompetence before the public and would not be intimidated by the withdrawal of security. He said MQM-P kept raising its voice in parliament and would now announce a course of action on the streets, adding that the party was considering coming out onto the streets.
He also claimed attempts would be made to trap them in cases and said cases had been registered against them before as well. Haque said they were provided one police mobile each for security.
Earlier, Federal Health Minister Kamal told Geo News that his security has also been withdrawn. He condemned the tragedy at Gul Plaza, where people lost their lives, calling the incident a failure of oversight.
He added that the authorities believe withdrawing security will intimidate them, but he rejected this notion. Kamal questioned the right of the current administration to govern Karachi, asserting that the federal government can take control of the city through a notification if necessary.
The senior MQM-P leader reiterated that the Gul Plaza tragedy exposed negligence and poor performance, which he described as an injustice.
He stressed that calling out such injustices has provoked a hostile response and called once again for Karachi to be freed from the grip of the ruling authorities, accusing them of destroying Pakistan through their actions.
Kamal stated that the federal government has been formally approached and that the issue is being raised in cabinet meetings, emphasising that the entire federal government and state apparatus are aware of their position. He contrasted global achievements, said: "The world reaches the moon while our children fall into sewers."
He clarified that they are not advocating anything undemocratic or unconstitutional and indicated that they will also engage with the PPP, accusing it of acting against them to their own detriment. Kamal concluded that, under Article 148, the federal government should take control of Karachi to restore order.
