Overview
- MQM-P, which held a press conference Wednesday in Karachi, demanded the government table the 28th Amendment to shift authority and resources to local bodies.
- Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui framed devolution as vital for national security and wartime readiness, saying the risk of conflict has reached Pakistan.
- The party offered to back the government in defense of the country if devolution advances and asked the prime minister and all parties to state their position.
- Siddiqui warned that Karachi would be an early target in any attack and cited the Gul Plaza fire to argue for empowered city leadership, adding that protests will follow if the demand is ignored.
- Leaders including Mustafa Kamal and Farooq Sattar urged full activation of Article 140-A and stronger district governments, noting that modern wars also depend on capable municipal administration.