MQM-P sounds marching call for new provinces

"New provinces should be created wherever there is a demand and a need based on population," he said, adding that the time had come for people to take to the streets to achieve their rights.

Responding to questions about the proposed province's geographical boundaries, Siddiqui said the migrants had brought their share of land with them when they migrated to Pakistan after sacrificing their properties in India. He also claimed that properties left behind by non-Muslims in Pakistan legally belonged to the migrants.

Announcing the November 29 march, he said an MQM-Pakistan convoy would head towards Sharae Faisal, claiming that all routes leading to the main artery would be blocked once the procession set off. "People across Pakistan are looking towards MQM and telling us to move forward, assuring us of their support," he said.

Siddiqui warned those opposing the demand for new provinces against threatening his party, saying the MQM-Pakistan was prepared to confront resistance. Recalling the September 30, 1986 violence in Hyderabad, the Sohrab Goth incident and the Qasba-Aligarh tragedy, he said the movement had survived numerous challenges and would continue.

MQM-Pakistan leader Wasim Akhtar said the meeting comprised workers from District East alone and did not represent the entire city. "Bilawal should come and see that these are only workers from District East, not the entire Karachi," he said, claiming that the city was increasingly aligning itself with the MQM and that the slogan emerging from Karachi would reach Islamabad.

Dr Farooq Sattar said the MQM-P struggle concerned 260m people across Pakistan who, he alleged, continued to face injustice. He said the 18th Constitutional Amendment had failed to improve the country's economic growth, while education and healthcare facilities remained inadequate, roads were in poor condition and even basic municipal services such as garbage collection were lacking.