• MQM-P’s Shoukat Ali says he belongs to Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui’s group; accuses Shariq Jamal from former PSP group of threatening him
• Speaker suspends Muttahida’s Engineer Usman over ruckus
• Area SSP, SHO summoned to record MPA’s statement; leave assembly after two sides ‘reconcile’

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly was on Friday rocked by unprecedented infighting within the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan when a party lawmaker, citing threats from a fellow member inside the house, appealed for protection.

The atmosphere abruptly grew tense and dramatic when MQM-P lawmaker Shoukat Ali rose on a point of order, alleging that he had been threatened with dire consequences by his own party colleague, MPA Shariq Jamal.

“Step outside and we’ll see you,” he quoted Mr Jamal as saying to him, and demanded that the relevant police station register a case and guarantee his security, warning that otherwise he would have no choice but to resign.

Taking strong notice of the lawmaker’s allegation, Speaker Syed Awais Shah directed Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Zia Lanjar to respond to the MQM-P member’s complaint.

The law minister, who also holds the portfolio of home affairs, said that it was not appropriate to raise such matters within the assembly, urging the chair to give a ruling on the matter.

“If we can’t even protect our own assembly member, then what would happen? This kind of complaint is shameful,” he remarked.

The speaker asked Leader of the Opposition Ali Khurshidi of the MQM-P to resolve the matter before the end of the session, or else he would suspend the membership of the member concerned.

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that this was a matter of cracks within the MQM-P and that they should protect their members.

The situation further aggravated when another MQM-P member, Engineer Mohammad Usman, started shouting and exchanged heated words with his party members.

A visibly irked speaker announced suspension of his membership and restricted his entry into the Sindh Assembly for creating a ruckus in the house and inciting fellow members to respond.

The speaker ruled that his suspension would remain in effect until he submits a written apology.

Mr Lanjar said that he had arranged security for the member and would take action against those who threatened him. He added that he might record his statement with the police if he wanted to.

MPA Shoukat Ali also told the house that that MQM-P MNA Iqbal Mehsud had come to his office with armed men on Monday and Friday and threatened him.

He said that this was an internal party matter and that he belonged to the Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui group, while the member threatening him belonged to the former Pak Sarzameen Party group.

However, the opposition leader said that the matter would be resolved as it was not a big issue.

The speaker also called the SSP-South and area SHO at his chamber to record the complaint of the MQM-P member against his own party member.

However, the two members later reconciled and the police officers left the assembly.

Sharjeel slams ‘hate speeches’ at Governor House event

During the proceedings, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon expressed regret over the choice of words and ideas at a programme held at the Governor House a few days ago.

He said the speakers at this event delivered hateful and linguistically biased speeches, which he condemned in the strongest terms.

Mr Memon emphasised that Karachi had endured bitter experiences of hatred, prejudice and linguistic tension in the past, and similar speeches had previously caused severe and irreparable damage to the city. “Making such statements under these circumstances could pose a serious threat to the city’s peace,” he added.

He further noted that it was unfortunate that, in addition to hateful and biased remarks, some state institutions were criticised inappropriately. “Such discussions in a constitutional and prestigious institution like the Governor House are neither appropriate nor safe for the dignity of the institutions or civic harmony,” he added.

He said that occupying such platforms and delivering biased messages was effectively an attempt to revive an environment that Karachi had already suffered from.

He said that the event and the discussions held at Governor House were against the peace, brotherhood and social harmony of the city and “today the emergence of such a statement by an elected representative of the MQM to another representative of the MQM is a cause for further concern”.

Later, the chair adjourned the sitting to Saturday (today).

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2026