ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) will hold an important press conference on Sunday to update the nation on the outcome of its meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the ongoing digital census 2023.
In a statement released on Saturday, MQM-P’s Rabta Committee stated that the party’s leaders will discuss the “progress achieved” during the meetings with the PM and federal ministers, and also address the party’s reservations and concerns over the digital census.
The committee stated that it had presented its reservations with proof in front of higher authorities, including the PM, and that the authorities had expressed concern over the facts presented by the party.
The committee added that the PM and other officials had assured the MQM-P of their full support during the census and the correction of statistics. “The census should be continued until every house and every person is counted,” the committee stated.
MQM-P collects resignations from MNAs
MQM-P had earlier collected resignations from its Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) due to their concerns over the digital census. In a Rabita Committee session chaired by MQM-P convenor Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, it was decided not to accept the digital census as the data of 2.5 million families were allegedly missing.
The resignations of MNAs were collected in the first phase, while the resignations of Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) in Sindh will be collected in the next phase.
It remains to be seen what important announcement the MQM-P will make following its meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif. The digital census is a key issue for the party, and it has been vocal in its concerns over the accuracy and completeness of the data being collected.
The MQM-P has called for a delay in the census until its concerns are addressed, and it is possible that the party may make an announcement regarding its future strategy in this regard.
