The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has warned that it may leave the coalition government if a decision is made without their consent regarding the Sindh governor’s position. Senior MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar stated, “The Sindh governor belongs to the MQM-P. It was agreed with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) that Kamran Tessori would remain governor.”
This warning comes amid reports that the PML-N-led federal government is considering replacing Tessori with former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) chief Bashir Memon, following discussions with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which governs Sindh. However, these reports have sparked concern within the MQM-P, with Tessori reaffirming his commitment to serving the people and dismissing the rumors as baseless.
Sattar made it clear that MQM-P had not been consulted about any changes to the governor’s role, and his colleague Khawaja Izharul Hassan also rejected the idea, emphasizing that the governor’s position is crucial for representing urban areas of Sindh when the chief minister is from rural areas.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar mentioned that a decision on the Sindh governor’s post is expected soon but denied the reports that Bashir Memon would be appointed to the role.
MQM-P’s support has been critical for the ruling coalition, especially after they helped remove the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government in April 2022. With 21 seats in the National Assembly, MQM-P remains a key ally, and losing their support could have serious consequences for the current government’s stability.