Show up or else you will lose your seat, ECP tells MQM-P convener 

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday rejected the MQM-P’s application, seeking two-month time for its Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to appear before the commission in the intra-party elections case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A three-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case.

ECP’s Political Finance Department officials and a party’s representative appeared before the bench.

Speaking during the hearing, DG Political Finance Masood Sherwani said that the last time the MQM-P held its intra-party elections was on October 16, 2021. “As per the party’s constitution, the next elections were due to be held four years later on October 16, 2025,” he informed.

He added that the commission had ordered the party to hold the elections by January 16, 2026. “But instead of holding the elections, the MQM-P extended the present administrative setup by one year through a resolution.”

Later, Sherwani went on to say, the ECP gave the party the deadline of March 16, 2026 to hold the polls.

The MQM-P’s representative said that the party’s convener himself wanted to appear before the commission. “Therefore, it is requested that he be granted two months for that,” he said, adding that Siddiqui was presently busy in ministerial affairs due to the Iran war.

The chief election commissioner replied, “There is no war in Pakistan. I cannot give him two months. Tell Siddiqui sab to either appear himself or send his lawyer. Otherwise, he risks losing his seat.”

Later, the bench adjourned the case’s hearing until April 16.

Reporter: Usman Khan