Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab on Friday said the federal cabinet’s decision of approving the Census 2017 was unilateral and illegal, adding that the MQM should leave the ruling alliance at Centre instead of taking to the streets, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

He was replying to a question about the MQM’s plan to hold protests over the census issue during a press conference at the Sindh Assembly building in Karachi. 

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah was the first person to raise the issue, Murtaza noted and added that the matter was already pending with the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

The remarks came as MQM leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui again reiterated his party’s stance and said they were reaching out to the people after sharing all the reservations and line of action with the government.

Siddiqui told reporters in the port city that the population of Karachi shown in the census was much less than the actual figures. There were several blocks in the city with voters but zero inhabitants, he remarked.

Blaming the governments for the census results, he said they would contact the people and ascertain their opinion, adding that the government must explain why decisions were not being taken after they had already used all constitutional options. 

The MQM leader also used the opportunity to state that their party offices were still closed – an issue which, he said, had not been raised previously.

Meanwhile, Murtaza also discussed the arrest of Capt Safdar and noted that the case was fabricated and had already been quashed by the court. The action could be taken against the person responsible for getting a bogus FIR registered, he mentioned.

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The spokesperson said they would share the findings of the provincial government’s report with the Centre next week through a letter. The report was to be made public after that, he added.  

Earlier this month, the MQM had agreed to contest the Senate elections as a partner with the PTI, as Prime Minister Imran Khan assured them of withdrawing the cases registered its leaders besides making some other concessions.