A dramatic scene unfolded in the Sindh Assembly when a lawmaker belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) accused members of his own party of issuing death threats against him.
During a session of the Sindh Assembly, MQM-P Member of the Provincial Assembly Rana Shaukat alleged that fellow party members Shariq Jamal and Iqbal Mehsud had threatened to kill him. Speaking on the floor of the House, Rana Shaukat demanded immediate action and stated that if the relevant police station was not called into the assembly to register his First Information Report (FIR), he would have no option but to resign from his seat.
His serious allegations prompted swift action from the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, who immediately summoned police officials to the assembly premises. The Speaker also advised the Leader of the Opposition, Ali Khurshidi, to intervene and help resolve the matter within the party.
Sindh’s Provincial Minister for Home Affairs, Zia Lanjar, assured Rana Shaukat that he would be provided full security and protection. The minister’s statement sought to calm tensions and ensure that the matter would be handled according to law.
However, Shariq Jamal responded by downplaying the controversy, claiming that the issue was an internal party matter and had already been resolved. His statement suggested that efforts were underway within the party to prevent the dispute from escalating further.
Meanwhile, the chairman of MQM-P, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, took notice of the situation and sought a report from Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi regarding the allegations and the events that transpired in the assembly.
The incident has drawn attention to internal tensions within MQM-P at a sensitive political time. Public accusations of such a serious nature—particularly claims of death threats—made on the floor of a legislative assembly are rare and underscore the gravity of the dispute. The Speaker’s decision to call police officials into the House reflects the seriousness with which the matter was treated.
While the Home Minister has assured protection to the aggrieved member, it remains to be seen whether a formal complaint will be registered and whether the matter will be pursued legally or resolved internally within the party structure. The chairman’s request for a report indicates that the party leadership intends to review the situation carefully before taking any disciplinary or corrective steps.
The episode highlights the importance of maintaining decorum, internal discipline, and conflict-resolution mechanisms within political parties, particularly when disputes spill over into public forums such as legislative assemblies. Whether this issue proves to be a temporary misunderstanding or signals deeper rifts within MQM-P will depend on the findings of the party leadership and any subsequent legal proceedings.
